http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/20454/
There are two main issues in migrating the system environment: the personal environment (personal files, but also personal preferences and configuration of several apps, keyring, etc), and the system environment (apps installed, global preferences).

Transfering the home directory and several configuration files does not solve the problem as some configuration files do not work well in the new machine. There is no reliable way (as far as I know) to automate the installation of the same applications on the new computer.

It would be great to have a migration tool, and even a sync tool if the user wants to have the same environment on multiple computers.

[130 votes] Solution #1: Add a migration/transfer tool in System->Administration


[28 votes] Solution #3: Add a "transfer settings from existing installation" in the installer.


]]> en-us Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:43:57 +0000 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:27:33 +0000 QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/20454/
But it's a backup tool, it's not made for 2-way sync.

(And I never tried (nor had to) restore my whole backups (I restored my home directory, but never the "system" part))]]> Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:40:10 +0000 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:37:07 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:28:11 +0000
There are utilities to do this already, but the average person would be completely lost as to WHAT application they need, WHAT needs to be backed up and HOW to get that stuff to their new box.

Which is my idea, to create/include an idiot proof backup
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/2606/]]> Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:07:08 +0000