[ale] Diff the whole file system?

[alan at alanlee.org]

One more thing I forgot.  You can also supply a --delete argument to the compare
line to have the rsync test run output what is no longer present from source to
destination.

Glad I could help.

-Alan H.


On March 23, 2012 at 10:34 AM James Sumners <james.sumners at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think I'm going to go with Ed Cashin's tool Integrit, but this is
> handy information to have. I might just do both.
>
> On Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 10:24, alan at alanlee.org <alan at alanlee.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Use rsync.  Before the install, rsync the file system to a backup directory.
> >  Then after the install use rsync to compare.  Example command lines for the
> > backup:
> >
> >
> >
> > rsync -rvax / /backup_mounted_fs/
> >
> >
> >
> > OR
> >
> >
> >
> > rsync -rvax / joe at othermachine:/pre_install_backup/
> >
> >
> > Example command lines for the compare:
> >
> >
> > rsync -rvaxcn / /backup_mounted_fs/
> >
> > rsync -rvaxcn / joe at othermachine:/pre_install_backup/
> >
> >
> > Note the trailing slashes, they are needed.  Also note the addition of 'c'
> > and 'n' options on the compare.  They cause rsync to compare using checksums
> > instead of file metadata and to perform a test run without actually changing
> > data respectively - with the 'v' flag outputting what it would have synced.
> >  'x' instructs rsync to not descend into other file systems (eg. /proc,
> > etc).
> >
> >
> >
> > It's a very useful tool for things like this.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Alan
> >
> >
> > On March 23, 2012 at 9:10 AM James Sumners <james.sumners at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I have a situation where I'm being forced to allow a remote installer
> >> to have root level sudo access to install their company's product
> >> (don't like it, but it's out of my hands). Technically, I have the
> >> system setup such that they should not need such access, but I can't
> >> change the monkey's script. Anyway, I'd like to be able to sort of
> >> "snapshot" my file system before I let them in so that I can go back
> >> and look at a before and after difference. Do any of you know of such
> >> a tool? Could this be done with rsync?
> >>
> >> I've read that LVM supports snapshots at the block level. Seeing as
> >> they are block level snapshots I don't see how that will help me
> >> figure out what the installer changed. I'd be able to revert the
> >> changes, but not study them.
> >>
> >> --
> >> James Sumners
> >> http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/
> >>
> >> "All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
> >> pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
> >> is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
> >> drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."
> >>
> >> Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
> >> CH:D 59
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Ale mailing list
> >> Ale at ale.org
> >> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> >> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>
>
>
> --
> James Sumners
> http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/
>
> "All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
> pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
> is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
> drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."
>
> Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
> CH:D 59
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