large backup log files

[gbjbaanb]

Hi.

I've just noticed that my system backups are huge compared to what i think they should be. On further investigation, I see the problem is that /var/log/lastlog is being backed up (FYI lastlog is a sparse file that looks like it is 2315068416 bytes in size on my system )

tar doesn't handle sparse files well, unless you specify the --sparse option. Without that option the file is tarred up as if it was a file of the shown size... (which is why my backups are so big.)

(maybe the reason I'm seeing this is because I'm running a 64-bit OS - see this Fedora mailing list note

So has anyone else noticed this, and fixed it (besides deleting the file, or removed /var/log from the backups?)

 

[nobaloney]

You don't need to backup any log files.

Which backup facility are you using?

Who set up the files it backs up?

Jeff

 

[gbjbaanb]

I'm using DirectAdmin's "System Backup" page. In the list of directories you can add to the backup was /var/log. i didn't add this, it was there by default (though I did check the 'add directories below to the backup' option).

I've taken /var/log out, but I thought it was a standard thing.

 

[nobaloney]

I'd certainly never backup log files. In the event I have a problem that results in the loss of a drive, I can live with losing them.

But I can see why some people would want to, or may be required to by law.

Jeff