Hard disk

Duplicity – encrypted bandwidth-efficient backup using rsync algorithm

Duplicity incrementally backs up files and directory by encrypting tar-format volumes with GnuPG and uploading them to a remote (or local) file server. To transmit data it can use ssh/scp, local file access, rsync, ftp, and Amazon S3.

Because duplicity uses librsync, the incremental archives are space efficient and only record the parts of files that have changed since the last backup. As the software uses GnuPG to encrypt and/or sign these archives, they will be safe from spying and/or modification by the server.

Currently duplicity supports deleted files, full unix permissions, directories, symbolic links, fifos, etc., but not hard links.

The duplicity package also includes the rdiffdir utility. Rdiffdir is an extension of librsync’s rdiff to directories; it can be used to produce signatures and deltas of directories as well as regular files.

Features include:

  • Simple to use.
  • Implements a traditional backup scheme, where the initial archive contains all information (full backup) and in the future only the changed information is added.
  • Encrypted and signed archives (using GnuPG).
  • Bandwidth and space efficient, using the rsync algorithm. Duplicity uses the rsync algorithm so only the changed parts of files are sent to the archive when doing an incremental backup. For instance, if a long log file increases by just a few lines of text, a small diff will be sent to and saved in the archive.
  • Standard file format.
  • Choice of remote protocol:
    • Local storage.
    • Amazon S3.
    • Backblaze B2.
    • DropBox.
    • ftp.
    • GIO.
    • Google Docs.
    • Google Drive.
    • HSI.
    • Hubic.
    • IMAP.
    • local filesystem.
    • Mega.co.
    • Microsoft Azure.
    • Microsoft Onedrive.
    • par2.
    • Rackspace Cloudfiles.
    • rsync.
    • Skylabel.
    • ssh/scp.
    • SwiftStack.
    • Tahoe-LAFS.
    • WebDAV.

Website: duplicity.gitlab.io
Support: Documentation, FAQ
Developer: Kenneth Loafman
License: GNU General Public License v2.0

Duplicity is written in Python. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

Return to Backup | Return to Deduplicating Encryption Backup Tools


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