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Idea #5421: Easy Import/Export all System settings to a small archive/file.

Written by bbauto the 22 Mar 08 at 16:34. Category: System. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
I Would like to have an easy way to transport/clone most of my settings including Packages, Bookmarks, Firefox settings, Evolution settings, Mediaplayer settings a.s.o into a small Archive: including General settings and User settings.

The archive should be small enough to be transported via a USB-Stick or mail, let us say max 250MB.
As it is for now, i will have to do this in several steps.

1. sudo dpkg --get-selections > Packages.lst
2. Export bookmarks
3. a.s.o...
And as many steps to complete the target computor.

Why not have a System Import/Export, the archive could be protected by crypto and a separate password.
By scheduling a daily backup of this file, i would also have someting like "Windows System Restore" but better.

A Simple GUI that lets you choose which items that should be included, would also be nice.
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #5421
Written by bbauto the 22 Mar 08 at 16:34.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #5421 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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ikar6 wrote on the 22 Mar 08 at 19:49
Great idea! Also this small program should be able to detect the extra applications that have been installed and be able to make a list of them in the "update" window. In that way even if you had to re-install the OS, getting a functional PC in its previous condition would be a matter of a few minutes.

Our current option is Acronis 11 (it supports ext3 partitions) but it's not opensource and it requires a large amount of space in an external HDD.

bbauto wrote on the 22 Mar 08 at 21:44
Using "sudo dpkg --set-selection < Packages.lst" or "Synaptic-->Archive-->Read Marks-->Packages.lst" makes the trick!
With this file (30-40kB) and my LiveCD i can recover most of my system, but i also need to have fresh Bookmarks, Settings in Firefox, Evolution etc. To collect all such setting in one Archive and a GUI similar to sbackup would be super.

Now i use kcron-->daily:
sudo dpkg --get-selections > Packages.lst
and then i use incremental sbackup on /etc /var /home...
and also cross-backup my Laptop/Home computor.
This is OK as long as i'am home.

The function described above can do a lot more than recover/clone. Let us say i click Export "Packages" "Firefox Settings" "media player settings" --> Archive
Then i could send this file to my friend that can't get his plugins to work properly... I can also leave a complete personal copy on my Web-mail, that i can reach from everyware, or have it on a USB-Stick.
The possibilities is countless... =o)



bbauto wrote on the 23 Mar 08 at 07:24
The General setting branch, could also be used for making computor specific files. For exampel I could share my settings for a Dell Latitude D610 or D520. I Could share my settings for my Sony Ericsson K810i...

sebsauvage wrote on the 25 Mar 08 at 09:45
Good idea !

This could also be used to create a new installation of Ubuntu with all your prefered settings and applications.

bbauto wrote on the 25 Mar 08 at 22:11
Exactly! =o)

SpearZ wrote on the 8 Dec 09 at 23:03
...I was just about to submit an idea similar to this one, until obviously I found this submission.
Has this been actioned yet? If not, why not!!! Such a great idea.

Web bookmarks & package information which you can view on a friend's computer, or use to clone a system with identical properties. Fantastic!


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