Question about Dietpi-Backup

[pedrom34]

Hey,

I have dietpi_userdata on a usbkey. I want to backup dietpi on another usb key, and I cannot figure out how to do it with filters...
I've read this #5836
and the related help: https://dietpi.com/docs/dietpi_tools/#dietpi-backup-backuprestore

Here's my /mnt list:

Folder	Comment
/mnt/samba/	Empty
/mnt/nas/	NFS Mount
/mnt/containers/	Symlink
/mnt/depot/	Symlink
/mnt/dietpi_userdata/	Symlink
/mnt/docs/	Symlink
/mnt/downloads/	Symlink
/mnt/films/	Symlink
/mnt/music/	Symlink
/mnt/series/	Symlink
/mnt/syncthing/	Symlink
/mnt/b002350b-019e-40e4-9177-1e678666e503/	USB Key for backup
/mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/	USB Key for dietpi_userdata

So, I want the dietpi_userdata to be included in the backup made on /mnt/b002350b-019e-40e4-9177-1e678666e503/ but I don't want the nas to be copied...
Default filter doesn't include it.
I tried:

+ /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/dietpi_userdata/
- /mnt/*
- /media/

I tried:

+ /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/dietpi_userdata/*
- /mnt/

Can you help me?

[MichaIng]

Try this:

+ /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/
- /mnt/*
- /media/

This is the relevant info from the default filter file:

# Excluded directories are not processed recursively, so contained items cannot be included.

So with your filter, /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/dietpi_userdata is not processed, because /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1 is excluded via - /mnt/* and - /mnt/ the same way. If parent directories match an exclude rule, preceding include rules need to include those to be processed. With the above example, all content of the USB drive is backed up. If you really only want include the userdata directory, the following would do:

+ /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/dietpi_userdata/
- /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/*
+ /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/
- /mnt/*
- /media/

Somehow complicated, I know, but once you understand the logic, it somehow makes sense. The list is always processed from top to bottom on every processed file, applying the first rule which matches. So in above case:

• The directory /mnt/ does not match any rule, as /mnt/* matches only all contained items, not the directory itself.
• /mnt/containers/ etc match line 4, hence are excluded, like all items contained in /mnt/, aside of:
• /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/ matches line 3, hence is included, and line 4 is then not applied anymore.
• /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/something matches line 2, hence is excluded like every other item in /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/, aside of:
• /mnt/c7a8c22e-6b5b-4425-9731-23379c3655b1/dietpi_userdata/ is included, as it matches line 1 and hence line 2 is not applied anymore.

An info that is not mentioned in the default filter file:

• If a directory is included, all it's content is included recursively, if there is no preceding exclude rule on contained items. So this is consistent to directory exclude rules, which as well apply to any contained items, as long as there is not preceding include rule on contained items.

[pedrom34]

Thank you a lot Micha!
Well, yes, it's a bit complex to understand 😅