Aptik backup/restoration of Apps and PPAs in Ubuntu graphic tutorial

 

 

When you want to reinstall Ubuntu or install a new version of Ubuntu, it is very convenient to reinstall the previous application and reset its settings, for example, Aptik can help you easily implement it.

Aptik (automatic package backup and recovery) is an application that can be used in Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and other Debian and Ubuntu-based Linux distributions, it allows you to archive personal software packages (PPAs) that have been installed, including software libraries, download packages, installed applications and themes, and user settings) back up to an external USB flash drive, network storage, or cloud service similar to Dropbox.

Note: When we talk about entering something in this article, if the entered content is enclosed in quotation marks, do not enter them together unless we have special instructions.

To install Aptik, you need to add its PPA first. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a new terminal window. Enter the following text and press enter.

Sudo apt-add-repository-y ppa: teejee2008/ppa

Enter your password and press enter.

 

 

Enter the following command at the command line prompt to ensure that the resource library is already in the latest version.

Sudo apt-get update

 

 

After the update, you have completed the preparation for installing Aptik. Run the following command and press enter:

Sudo apt-get install aptik

Note: You may see some error messages about failed package updates. But don't worry. If these prompts look similar to the ones shown below, your Aptik installation will be fine.

 

 

The installation process is displayed. One of the displayed messages will mention how much disk space will be used for this installation, and then prompt whether you want to continue. Press "y" and press enter to continue the installation.

 

 

After the installation is complete, enter "Exit" and press enter or press the "X" button in the upper left corner to close the terminal window.

 

 

Before running Aptik, you must set the backup directory to a USB flash Drive, network Drive, or cloud account similar to Dropbox and Google Drive. In this example, we use Dropbox.

 

 

Once the backup directory is set, click "Search" at the top of the startup bar.

 

 

Type "aptik" in the search box ". The result is displayed with your input. When the Aptik icon is displayed, click it to open the application.

 

 

At this time, a dialog box is displayed asking you to enter the password. Enter your password and press "OK.

 

 

The main window of Aptik is displayed. Select "Other…" from the "Backup Directory" drop-down list ...". This operation allows you to select the backup directory you have created.

Note: The "Open" button on the right of the drop-down list opens the select directory function in a file management window.

 

 

In the "Backup Directory" dialog box, locate your Backup Directory and press "Open ".

Note: If you have not yet created a backup directory or want to Create a new subdirectory in the backup directory, you can click "Create Folder" to Create a directory.

 

 

Click "Backup" on the right of "Software Sources (PPAs)." to back up the installed PPAs.

 

 

The "Backup Software Sources" dialog box is displayed. The installed package and the corresponding source (PPA) are also displayed. Select the source (PPAs) you want to back up, or click "Select All" to Select All sources.

 

 

Click "Backup" to start Backup.

 

 

After the backup is complete, a dialog box prompting you to complete the backup will pop up. Click "OK" to turn it off.

A file named "ppa. list" appears in the backup directory.

 

 

Next, the "Downloaded Packages (APT Cache)" project is only useful for reinstalling Ubuntu of the same version. It backs up the packages in your system cache (/var/cache/apt/archives. If you are upgrading the system, you can skip this entry, because the packages for the new system will be newer than the packages cached by the existing system.

Back up and restore downloaded packages. This saves time and network bandwidth when you reinstall Ubuntu. Because once you restore these packages to the system cache, they can be reused, so that the download process is free of charge, and the package installation will be faster.

If you reinstall the Ubuntu system of the same version, click the "Backup" button on the right of "Downloaded Packages (APT Cache)" to back up the Packages in the system Cache.

Note: When you back up the downloaded package, there is no second-level dialog box. The packages in your system cache (/var/cache/apt/archives) will be copied to the folder named "archives" under the backup directory, after the entire process is completed, a dialog box will appear to tell you that the backup is complete.

 

 

Some packages are part of your Ubuntu release. They will be automatically installed during Ubuntu installation, so they will not be backed up. For example, Firefox is installed by default on Ubuntu and other similar Linux distributions, so it will not be backed up by default.

Packages or packages containing Aptik that are installed only after the system such as package for the Chrome web browser is installed are selected by default. This allows you to easily back up the packages installed after these backups.

Select the package to be backed up as needed. Click "Backup" on the right of "Software Selections" to back up the top-level package.

Note: the dependency package will not appear in this backup.

 

 

Two files named packages. list and packages-installed.list appear in the backup directory, and a dialog box that notifies you of backup completion appears. Click "OK" to close it.

Note: The packages-installed.list file contains all the packages, and the packages. list also specifies the packages selected when it contains all the packages.

 

 

To back up the Settings of installed software, click "Backup" on the right of "Application Settings" on the Aptik main interface, select the Settings you want to back up, and click "Backup ".

Note: If you want to Select All settings, click "Select All.

 

 

The selected configuration file is packaged into a file named paiapp-settings.tar.gz.

 

 

After the package is completed, the packaged file is copied to the backup directory, and another dialog box is displayed. Click "OK" to turn it off.

 

 

You can also back up the topic in the "/usr/share/themes" directory and the icon in the "/usr/share/icons" directory. Click "Backup" on the right of "Themes and Icons" to perform this operation. The "Backup Themes" dialog box selects all Themes and icons by default. You can install the desired and cancel unnecessary ones, and then click "Backup" to back up the data.

 

 

The topic is packaged and copied to the "themes" folder under the backup directory, and the icon is packaged and copied to the "icons" folder under the backup directory. Then, a dialog box is displayed, and click "OK" to close it.

 

 

Once you have completed the required backup, click "X" in the upper left corner of the main interface to close Aptik.

 

 

The backed up file already exists in the backup directory you selected. You can view it at any time.

 

 

After you reinstall Ubuntu or install a new version of Ubuntu, install Aptik in the new system and place the backed up files in the new system for use. Run Aptik and use each Restore button to Restore your software source, application, package, setting, topic, and icon.