Pupsave Backup Errors

[JusGellin]

When I try running Pupsave Backup, it brings up the first display mentioning where it will save and how much is required.
Then I select the backup button and nothing happens

I have more than enough disk space for a backup and I have also been able to make a backup a couple of days ago.

Running this from the terminal, when it brings up the first display it gets these repeat errors:

# pupsave-backup
environment: line 17: 5706820
467213384: syntax error in expression (error token is "467213384")
environment: line 17: 5706820
467213384: syntax error in expression (error token is "467213384")
environment: line 17: 5706820
467213384: syntax error in expression (error token is "467213384")
environment: line 17: 5706820
467213384: syntax error in expression (error token is "467213384")

Then if the backup button is selected it gives this final error and quits:

/sbin/pupsave-backup: line 95: 5706820
467213384: syntax error in expression (error token is "467213384")
#

I'm using BookwormPup64_10.0.6

What can I do to correct this?

Thanks

[bigpup]

Are you operating BookwormPup64 using English as language?

If no.

What are you using?

[JusGellin]

Are you operating BookwormPup64 using English as language?

If no.

What are you using?

Why are you asking that? Do you see something different?
Yes I'm using English.

[Clarity]

Hello @JusGellin

Question

• Are you running from an ISO file boot or did you install this v10.0.6?

• Upon the very first boot which you did (pristine) to desktop; after 1st using v10.0.6, did you

  1. save the session upon first use of the desktop and then

  2. rebooted with the session you saved?

• In addition to those answers: Can you post a screen-shot of the selection screen?

SaveCurrentSession.jpg (17.23 KiB) Viewed 459 times

I'm just trying to envision how you got to this problem in order to help.

[JusGellin]

Hello @JusGellin

Question

• Are you running from an ISO file boot or did you install this v10.0.6?

• Upon the very first boot which you did (pristine) to desktop; after 1st using v10.0.6, did you

  1. save the session upon first use of the desktop and then

  2. rebooted with the session you saved?

I was building a virtual machine using qemu (virt-manager).
I installed the 10.0.6 iso first, then rebooted without saving, of course.
Then from then on if I shut down or rebooted I would save.

So I went through setting up the spot for the portable version of Firefox.
Then set up the portable version of Thunderbird.
I believe that I then used the Pupsave Backup to successfully make its first backup after that.
After this I installed Calibre.
I ran and used all of these after that.
It was when I tried to make a new backup that I no longer could using the menu, but would get those errors
if I ran the backup from the terminal.

So then I thought maybe I should increase my hard drive disk space and made a new virtual machine
using 4 GB memory and 20 GB hard drive. I frugally installed again from the iso. I wanted to try doing the backups earlier after the first install.
This time I made the first backup successfully.
I set up Firefox again and tried making a backup.
The backup failed right away getting those errors right away if I use the terminal to run the backup.
That's where I am right now. I must be doing something different because this is the first time this is happening.
Just thinking about it now, maybe it is how I'm setting up Firefox.

I was hoping those error messages might be familiar to someone that may know what to do.
It's so nice to use virtual machines to easily restart doing this. I'll keep looking to try seeing what I must be doing wrong.
It would be nice to know exactly so if someone else encounters this to know why.

I hope I didn't give more detail than necessary to bore you. I just wanted to unload my thinking so I can figure this out.
I've learned that I need to keep better notes how to do things and I'm learning better how to troubleshoot as well.
I need to be better organized too.

Thanks

[JusGellin]

I think I found the problem by going back and verifying each step from the start.

The problem turned out to be where I put a directory share from the host.
Before I put it at /mnt/home. I put it there because I saw from @mikewalsh portables, that thunderbird should be placed there.
I think what was happening was that when I backed up with it there, it was trying to back up everything in the directory share (which is large) because
it was at that location. It tried to and messed something up with the backup app so it never worked again for that session.

So instead on a fresh install I placed the directory share at /root.
It was ok when I did - backup worked fine like it should.

I don't fully understand what areas are backed up and what areas are not.
From what happened here:
/mnt/home is backed up or is it just not a good location for a shared directory?
/root is not

Is there something that explains what directory areas are backed up and what directory areas are not to help me understand?

Thanks

[Clarity]

This thread has led me to using 'pupsave' for the first time.

I've understood the direction that was taken during its development.

But in my initial testing I have managed to LOSE both the backup and the original Session (this is/was a 4-month old session used each time the PC was rebooted). I think I know why, but further test will be needed, by me, to be accurate.

In any event, I have 2 questions:

• Is it advised to run PUPSAVE on the actively used session file (folder) on the ext4 partition?

• OR should this ONLY be used from an alternate distro booted-running the PUPSAVE utility for the non-booted distro's session file/folder?

Help with advice, please as I am seeking best practices for backing up when needed (up until now, I never needed/used one in all my forum years).

[JusGellin]

I think placing my share folder caused a problem putting it at /mnt/home was because the share had its own mount that was automatic.
It wasn't because this is a reserved location.

I tested if I could put a dummy text in each of the root folders to see if they were saved or not by making a backup using the menu item Pupsave Backup.
I learned how to look into the backup folder to do this.
The only ones (needs to be re verified) that didn't save to the save folder were:
/dev
/media
/mnt
/system

I'm not probably getting this fully understood, but I think I'm making a lot of progress toward it.
I would appreciate any more information that could help me understand this better.
Thanks

Please be sure to look at @Clarity above for answering his questions as well.

[bigpup]

In any event, I have 2 questions:

Is it advised to run PUPSAVE on the actively used session file (folder) on the ext4 partition?

OR should this ONLY be used from an alternate distro booted-running the PUPSAVE utility for the non-booted distro's session file/folder?

Help with advice, please as I am seeking best practices for backing up when needed (up until now, I never needed/used one in all my forum years).

The whole idea of Pupsave Backup program is to be able to make a backup copy of the running save being used.
Running it in the Puppy version as the save is being used.

It is best if only the Pupsave Backup program is running and only it, until it completes making the backup copy of the save.
Just booted to a desktop using the save and then running Pupsave Backup program.
Just before doing a shutdown, with all programs closed, so only Pupsave Backup is running.

I do not think the program is coded to do anything but make a copy of the save being used by the Puppy OS Pupsave Backup is running in.

With save folders and their sizes getting into GB ranges.
This backup process can take a lot of time to complete.

I wonder if the size of the save, you tried to backup, was a issue with you.

Note:
Pupsave Backup does give a choice of where you want the backup to be stored.
It defaults to /mnt/home location.
That is the same partition the Puppy save is on.

I always select a different partition or even different drive to store it on.

My thinking is it has to first read the save and then write the backup.
So if /mnt/home is used, it is reading from the partition and then writing to the same partition.
You cannot read and write at exactly the same time to the same partition.
But you can read from a partition and write to a different partition, basically at the same time. For sure to a different drive.

[JusGellin]

I would like to know something similar to what @Clarity has asked.
I've been pretty diligent to make backups when I'm going to make a big change. So I usually do that
after a save and with nothing else running.

What is the proper way to use this app? It seems very convenient that is in the menu so it can be used at any time.
I saw problems one person was having. So he wrote his own similar backup.

Pupsave-backup: Several Issues Identified (need testing of my PuppyHotSave that fixes issues)
Post by mow9902 » Mon Apr 10, 2023 1:40 am
viewtopic.php?t=8455

[JusGellin]

Screenshot.png (28.83 KiB) Viewed 285 times

I found that when running this it mentions it wants to save first. It doesn't indicate you need to do the backup in any special way.