Linux Server Backup and Synchronization

1. Project overview

Remote transfer, log synchronization and configuration archive exercises.

2. Objective

Move files securely, synchronize changed files and examine restoration and SSH failures.

3. Environment and technologies

servera/serverb lab; Fedora workstation screenshots; SSH; SFTP; rsync; tar; logger.

4. Architecture

Recovered design: servera sends logs and configuration archives to serverb. A separate retained rsync screenshot runs from serverb to serverb, so it does not verify this full architecture.

5. Technical implementation

1. History describes a serverlogs destination, rsync -av /var/log, logger activity and another synchronization.
2. Preserve path semantics: /var/log without a trailing slash includes the log directory beneath the target.
3. History records tar archives of /etc, SFTP transport and extraction into a restore directory; final restoration output was not recovered.
4. The rsync screenshot first uses student:serverb as an invalid host, then corrects the destination to student@serverb and encounters protected-log permission errors.

6. Configuration examples

Recovered command history plus selected verbatim screenshot errors. Host-key fingerprint and address omitted.

rsync -av /var/log student@serverb:/home/student/serverlogs
logger "Log files synchronized"
ssh-keygen -R serverb

# Selected original screenshot error lines:
ssh: Could not resolve hostname student: Name or service not known
rsync: connection unexpectedly closed (0 bytes received so far) [sender]
# After destination syntax was corrected:
rsync: [sender] opendir "/var/log/audit" failed: Permission denied (13)

7. Security considerations

Verify a changed host key through a trusted source before removing a stale known_hosts entry and accepting a replacement. Protect configuration archives and scope access to logs.

8. Troubleshooting

Destination syntax was corrected, but the screenshot still shows access failures. This is not a complete backup. Compare files and run a restore test before claiming recoverability.

9. Verified result

An original SFTP image reports a 401-byte script download at 100%. The rsync image establishes name-resolution and permission failures; complete log synchronization and /etc restoration remain unverified.

10. Original evidence

Original lab2/rsync.png inspected locally; safe error-line transcription above. Original lab2/q10.png displayed. Recovered January 2025 notes supply the servera/serverb and archive-restoration scope.

Evidence register · Recovered commands are owner-supplied history. Illustrative examples are not claimed execution.