Thread: Problems backing up encrypted home folder

hello, installed ubuntu karmic on netbook (i tried netbook remix preferred of regular desktop edition). when during installation, option encrypt home folder appeared, , being mildly paranoid thought, "sure, why not?" (i must warn new user little technical knowledge other have managed gather in semi-passive manner on past couple of months). problem is, (try to) backup data weekly, , today gave shot (i got desktop edition week ago). have encountered following problem.

backup system following (approximately) instructions @ https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ba.../tar#preparing backup
exact command enter @ backup is:
sudo tar -cvpjf 2010.02.13.tar.bz2 --exclude=/proc --exclude=/lost+found --exclude=/sys --exclude=/mnt --exclude=/media --exclude=/home/dan/music /
(i exclude music folder huge , have in several other locations)
when executed command ran smoothly while, began backing directory
/home/.ecryptfs/dan/.private
@ point, started backing huge number of files in directory. assume these encryption keys? forgive ignorance...
anyway, took several hours going through folder, , bzip gave up, complaining of excessive file size:
----
bzip2: i/o or other error, bailing out. possible reason follows.
bzip2: file large
input file = (stdin), output file = (stdout)
----
now... guessing here, assume excluding encryption keys , such backup bad idea: guess if did not restore relevant directories along home folder, inaccessible?

there way avoid backing such large amount of data? how? if not, point me instructions backing large amounts of data? have heard of references "splitting" tarballs, guess might solution?

in advance advice/solutions.

dan

i've never backed encrypted partition before, there basics of compression working against in it. compression based on finding patterns in binary. if file compressing random compression make larger. encryption attempts randomize information in way cannot deciphered, therefore may have issues compressing encrypted drive. i'm not entirely sure, seems whats happening you.

easy workaround compress encrypted system, exact data (cp -a) thats encrypted. same size of home directory, should work.

Forum The Ubuntu Forum Community Ubuntu Official Flavours Support General Help [SOLVED] Problems backing up encrypted home folder

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