How to auto-copy to removable device?

Question

I've got data on my HDD that needs to be backed up. Lets say that it's everything in folder a. On a USB stick there's a copy of folder a, that should be updated automatically whenever the stick is mounted. How can this be done automatically?

Answer 1

Create a udev rule for when the drive is inserted, and run your backup routine (rsync or other procedure on the device).

This is a crude example to get you started.

The rule to call your backup script (/etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules):

ACTION=="add", RUN+="/bin/sh -c 'exec /home/userid/backupscript.sh & > /home/userid/Desktop/test.out'"

Replace userid above with your userid, or place the script in a different path.

The backup script:

#!/bin/bash                                                                                       

templine=/tmp/line.$$

backuproutine () {
    # backup rountine goes here                                                                   
    timestamp=$(date)
    message="This is the Backup noice."
    device=$(mount | egrep "sd.1")
    echo -e "$timestamp:$message\n$device" > $templine
    cat $templine >> /home/userid/Desktop/backupnotice.txt
}

backuproutine
rm $templine

This is a crude script, but something to get you started.

This command will provide details on how to use the udev rules.

man udev