07-04-2017, 04:04 AM
As commented above, for multi-partition / whole drive backups... tar goes out the window with the cat. And dd when used with the if command is perfectly safe, as that is only for read... it's only a worry when you start using the of side of things 
But yes, for file system backups, tar is indeed a better choice, especially when used with the -z option so your backup doesn't end up the exact same size as your input (baring file system wastage).
But I also like Erik's system of using scripts to basically automate the initial setting of up things... I'm slowly working towards that with the rock64 due to wiping it every week or so to try the latest development image, so want to re-install and reconfigure it to a standard working state each time.. so have a configuration script which I can pull from my local network upon logging in for the first time. And soon it will probably start pulling in /home folder backups, but for the moment it is only setting up my preferred login account, installing some basic 'essentials', pulling down a couple of git repos that I want available and restoring ssh keys from my server. All adds up once you realise what you want when you start from scratch!
But yes, for file system backups, tar is indeed a better choice, especially when used with the -z option so your backup doesn't end up the exact same size as your input (baring file system wastage).
But I also like Erik's system of using scripts to basically automate the initial setting of up things... I'm slowly working towards that with the rock64 due to wiping it every week or so to try the latest development image, so want to re-install and reconfigure it to a standard working state each time.. so have a configuration script which I can pull from my local network upon logging in for the first time. And soon it will probably start pulling in /home folder backups, but for the moment it is only setting up my preferred login account, installing some basic 'essentials', pulling down a couple of git repos that I want available and restoring ssh keys from my server. All adds up once you realise what you want when you start from scratch!
