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Using ReaR to backup a linux pc to a shared windows drive in one step

Relax-and-Recover (ReaR) Backup Summary for lpt-dell to Windows SMB Share via SSHFS

System Being Backed Up:

  • Hostname: lpt-dell
  • OS: Xubuntu (with Fish shell)
  • Goal: Full system backup + bootable ISO stored on network share (Windows drive E:)

Backup Destination:

  • Machine: Windows 11 Pro at 192.168.1.200
  • Share path: E:\rear-backups-lpt-dell
  • Access via: SSHFS from lpt-dell as user mark

Final Verified ReaR Configuration

/etc/rear/local.conf:

ini OUTPUT=ISO BACKUP=NETFS BACKUP_URL=file:///home/mark/mnt/rear-backups-lpt-dell

Working Backup Procedure

  1. Ensure SSH access to Windows is working:
ssh mark@192.168.1.200
  1. Unmount previous mount if needed:
fusermount -u ~/mnt/rear-backups-lpt-dell
  1. Mount the Windows backup folder with proper permissions:
sshfs -o allow_other mark@192.168.1.200:/E:/rear-backups-lpt-dell ~/mnt/rear-backups-lpt-dell
  1. Clean up any stale files (optional but recommended):

sh rm ~/mnt/rear-backups-lpt-dell/rear-lpt-dell.iso 

5. **Create the backup folder on the share (if not already present):**

```sh
mkdir -p ~/mnt/rear-backups-lpt-dell/lpt-dell

  1. Run ReaR backup (as root):
sudo rear -v mkbackup

Outcome:

  • ISO created at /var/lib/rear/output/rear-lpt-dell.iso
  • Backup archive written to /home/mark/mnt/rear-backups-lpt-dell/lpt-dell/backup.tar.gz

Notes:

  • ReaR rejects BACKUP_URL paths that reside on / partition. Using mounted SSHFS folder bypasses this.
  • The ISO and backup are not stored together by default; ISO must be copied separately if needed.
  • Root access is required to run rear mkbackup and access mounted destinations.

Optional Cleanup: To remove temporary ReaR data from the local system:

sudo rm -rf /var/tmp/rear.*
sudo rm -f /var/lib/rear/output/rear-lpt-dell.iso

Status: Fully verified as working.