Re: [rdiff-backup-users] Restoring files while rdiff-backup is running

[Dave Kempe]

Helge Milde wrote:
> Can you elaborate on this, please? I don't understand what's technically
> preventing rdiff-backup from letting me restore a backup from (for
> instance) a given date. As far as I understand, rdiff already has all
> the data it needs to do a restore, and since it should be a read-only
> operation, I don't understand how that would impact or corrupt the
> ongoing backup process.
Well you may be right logically, but I am not sure rdiff-backup could 
allow this to happen in the way the meta-data and other backup processes 
work. I believe the checks in place for restoring are put in place to 
ensure the logical consistency of the files in the backup repository. 
Otherwise you may have some files from one age and some from other. Not 
to mention the mess that could make with reverse diffs etc.
To me, it seems like a dangerous operation, and one that rdiff-backup is 
designed to avoid. However, that being said, if you can design and 
implement a way to do it, I think the list would be happy to test out 
your patches.
The other developers may have a better and more in depth opinion than me 
(certainly more qualified than me!). The answers are in the source of 
course.

thanks

dave