How To Install UrBackup on Manjaro

UrBackup stands out as a powerful open-source backup solution that offers both file and image backup capabilities. For Manjaro Linux users looking to implement a reliable backup system, UrBackup provides an excellent option with its client-server architecture and comprehensive feature set. This guide walks through multiple methods to install UrBackup on Manjaro, from standard package installation to manual compilation and Docker deployment.

Understanding UrBackup

UrBackup is a client-server backup system that enables automatic backups of files and entire disk images. The server component manages backup storage, scheduling, and retention policies, while clients connect to the server to perform backups. This architecture allows for centralized management of backups across multiple systems.

The key features that make UrBackup particularly valuable include:

• Incremental file and image backups that save storage space and bandwidth
• Web-based administration interface for easy management
• Client software for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms
• Deduplication capabilities to minimize storage requirements
• Flexible retention policies for managing backup lifecycle
• Optional encryption for securing backup data

UrBackup works by establishing a connection between server and client components. The server component runs continuously as a background service, while clients perform backups according to configured schedules. File backups can capture specific directories, while image backups create complete snapshots of entire drives or partitions.

Manjaro provides an ideal platform for running UrBackup due to its rolling release model and robust package management system. The distribution’s performance-oriented approach also ensures that backup operations run efficiently without excessive resource consumption.

Prerequisites for Installation

Before installing UrBackup on your Manjaro system, ensure you meet the following requirements:

System Requirements:

• A Manjaro Linux installation (any desktop environment)
• At least 1GB of RAM (2GB or more recommended for larger backup sets)
• 200MB disk space for the application (plus space for backups)
• Processor with 1GHz or faster (multi-core recommended for simultaneous backups)
• Network connectivity between server and client machines

Storage Considerations:

• Sufficient storage space for your backup data (external drives or network storage recommended)
• Fast disk I/O for better backup performance
• Permissions to access the backup storage location

Before proceeding with any installation method, update your Manjaro system to ensure all packages are current:

sudo pacman -Syu

This update process helps prevent dependency conflicts and ensures compatibility with the latest version of UrBackup components.

Method 1: Standard Package Installation

The most straightforward approach to installing UrBackup on Manjaro is through the standard package repositories. This method provides the advantage of automatic dependency resolution and simplified updates through the package manager.

Updating System Packages

First, ensure your system is fully updated by opening a terminal and running:

sudo pacman -Syu

This command synchronizes the package databases and upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions. Wait for the process to complete before proceeding.

Installing Required Dependencies

UrBackup requires several dependencies to function properly, including Qt components for the user interface and database packages for storing configuration information:

sudo pacman -S qt5-base qt5-svg sqlite mariadb-libs cryptopp zlib curl

These dependencies provide:

• Qt5 components for the graphical interface
• SQLite and MariaDB libraries for database functionality
• Cryptopp for encryption capabilities
• zlib for compression
• curl for network operations

Installing UrBackup Server

On Manjaro, UrBackup is available through the Arch User Repository (AUR). You’ll need an AUR helper like yay to simplify the installation process. If you don’t have yay installed, install it first:

sudo pacman -S --needed git base-devel
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Now, install the UrBackup server using yay:

yay -S urbackup-server

During the installation, you might be prompted to review the PKGBUILD file and confirm the installation. Review the information and proceed by pressing ‘Y’.

To verify that the installation completed successfully, check the installed package:

pacman -Qi urbackup-server

Starting and Enabling the Service

After installation, start the UrBackup server service and enable it to automatically start on system boot:

sudo systemctl start urbackupsrv
sudo systemctl enable urbackupsrv

Verify that the service is running correctly:

sudo systemctl status urbackupsrv

Method 2: Docker Installation

Docker provides a containerized approach to running UrBackup, offering simplified deployment and isolation from the host system.

Docker Prerequisites

First, install Docker on your Manjaro system:

sudo pacman -S docker

Pulling the UrBackup Server Image

Pull the official UrBackup Docker image:

docker pull uroni/urbackup-server

Creating and Running the Container

Create a directory to store UrBackup data persistently:

mkdir -p ~/urbackup-data
docker run -d --name urbackup-server \
  -p 55413-55415:55413-55415 \
  -v ~/urbackup-data:/var/urbackup \
  -v ~/urbackup-database:/var/urbackup-database \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  uroni/urbackup-server

Post-Installation Configuration

After successfully installing UrBackup through any of the methods above, you’ll need to perform some initial configuration.

Accessing the Web Interface

Open a web browser and navigate to the UrBackup web interface:

http://localhost:55414

Initial Server Setup

When you first access the web interface, you’ll be presented with a setup wizard to configure essential settings:

1. Set an administrator username and password for secure access
2. Define the backup storage location path
3. Configure general settings such as the server name
4. Review and adjust default backup settings

Adding and Managing Backup Clients

UrBackup truly shines with its client-server architecture, allowing centralized backup management for multiple systems.

Types of Clients Supported

UrBackup supports clients for:

• Windows (XP through Windows 11)
• Linux (various distributions including Manjaro)
• macOS (through the unofficial client)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful installation, issues may arise. Here are solutions to common problems:

Installation Problems

Dependency Issues:

• Error: “Could not resolve dependencies”
  Solution: Update package databases with sudo pacman -Sy and try again

Congratulations! You have successfully installed UrBackup. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the UrBackup on Manjaro Linux system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official UrBackup website.