dkopp Introduction (short)
dkopp is a free open source Linux program used to copy or back-up disk files to DVD. Full or incremental backups can be done, with full or incremental DVD verification. A GUI is used to navigate through directories to select or de-select files or directories at any level. Backup jobs can be saved for later re-use. New, deleted, and updated disk files are handled automatically, without re-editing the backup job. An incremental backup updates the same DVD used for a prior full backup. Files can be restored to the same or another location on disk. Large backup jobs can be done using multiple DVD media.
To download and install dkopp, visit the download page.
dkopp Introduction (long)
dkopp is a Linux utility program for copying disk files to recordable DVD media. With dkopp, you can copy your files to DVD for safekeeping or archival storage, and verify that the copy is good (no read errors). dkopp is a free program licensed under the GNU General Public License.
Three kinds of backup are available: full, incremental, and accumulate. A full backup copies all specified files and leaves no other files on the DVD. An incremental backup copies only those files needed to make a prior dkopp DVD match the disk files exactly: only new or changed files are copied. This is normally much faster than a full backup. An Incremental backup also removes DVD files that are no longer present on the disk. Thus, after an incremental backup, the DVD will exactly match the disk. An accumulate backup is like an incremental backup, but unmatched DVD files are not removed.
You select files to be copied using a GUI. You can navigate through the file system and select files or directories to include or exclude at any level in the directory hierarchy. These choices can be saved in a backup job file to automate recurring backups. If files are added or deleted within an included or excluded directory, you need normally take no further action: the next backup will include these changes automatically. You need to revise the backup job only if you make new exceptions.
DVD media can be verified three ways: full, incremental, and thorough. A full verify reads the entire DVD and reports any files having read errors. An incremental verify reads only those files that were newly written by an immediately preceeding backup job. This is usually much faster while still offering a high level of security. A thorough verify reads every file on the DVD and makes a bytewise comparison with the corresponding disk file. This assures that the hardware and software are working correctly.
You can list all files on a dkopp DVD, or search for specific files using wildcards. You can compare the DVD with the corresponding backup job file, listing all differences: files that have been created, deleted, or modified since the DVD copy was made. This comparison can also be made at two summary levels: file differences (counts and bytes) per directory, or for the entire job.
For disaster recovery or file transfer, dkopp has a file restore capability. You can select and restore DVD files to their original directories or somewhere else.
Incremental backups update the same DVD as full backups. You do not need to track matching sets of full and incremental DVDs, and you do not need to restore files from multiple DVDs in correct sequence.
Backup files are recorded in a backup log, which you can query to find all past backups of a desired file or directory. The log shows the backup dates and times and the DVD labels.
Menu commands may be read from a script file for automation purposes: e.g. you could run a nightly backup and list all the new and revised files in a log file.
Incremental backup and verify requires about a minute if new and updated files are within 30 megabytes or so. For larger jobs, the DVD speed determines the time required. 150-300 megabytes per minute in typical.
Screenshot (click image for full size)
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