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Btrfs

Description

Btrfs is a modern copy on write (COW) file system for Linux aimed at implementing advanced features while also focusing on fault tolerance, repair and easy administration.

Directory

References

Timeshift with Btrfs

Description

Timeshift for Linux is an application that provides functionality similar to the System Restore feature in Windows and the Time Machine tool in macOS. This details how to setup and use Timeshift with Btrfs.

References

Steps

  1. Install the timeshift package using yay.

  2. Install the timeshift-autosnap package using yay to automatically create a snapshot every pre-upgrade.

  3. Install the grub-btrfs package using yay to allow booting into snapshots through Grub.

  4. Complete the setup through the Timeshift wizard:

    • Authenticate (as it requires sudo).

    • Select BTRFS as Snapshot Type.

    • Select the main btrfs partition as the Snapshot Location.

    • Select the desired Snapshot Levels. Default options are fine.

    • Leave the Include @home subvolume in backups option unchecked.

    • Click Finish.

  5. Create the first snapshot by clicking the Create button.

  6. Start and Enable the system's cron service (i.e. cronie.service) so that scheduled backups work.

  7. Regenerate a new GRUB config so that grub-btrfs works as intended.

Notes

  • timeshift-autosnap should only keep 3 older snapshots by default according to its config, /etc/timeshift-autosnap.conf.

  • If it is not working reliably, it is recommended for you to use the Timeshift desktop application to delete older snapshots manually from time to time.

Balance Btrfs Volumes

Description

If you are using a Btrfs filesystem, it is recommended for you to "balance" your Btrfs volumes on a monthly basis in order to ensure that the free space available on your device is properly unallocated.

Warning

Leaving your Btrfs volume unbalanced for too long might cause you No space left errors in the long run.

Steps

  1. Install the btrfs-assistant application using yay.

  2. Launch the btrfs-assistant application. You will be asked to authenticate (as it requires root permissions).

  3. Click the Start button in the Balance section to balance your Btrfs volumes.

Disable Swap

Description

This details how to disable and remove a swap device on a system running BTRFS.

References

Steps

  1. First, verify that swap is indeed currently enabled on the system:

    • First method:

      inxi -j

      Sample output:

      Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 512 MiB used: 511.8 MiB (100.0%)
    file: /swap/swapfile

    • Second method:

      swapon --show

      Sample output:

      NAME           TYPE SIZE   USED PRIO
/swap/swapfile file 512M 511.8M   -2

    [!NOTE]
    Take note of the swap device name such as in this sample being /swap/swapfile.

  2. Disable the swap device (i.e. /swap/swapfile):

    swapoff /swap/swapfile

  3. Unmount the swap volume (i.e. /swap) so it can be deleted:

    sudo umount /swap

  4. Delete the @swap BTRFS subvolume using the Btrfs Assistant application:

    • Launch the Btrfs Assistant application. Install the btrfs-assistant package using yay if you do not have it already.

    • Navigate to the Subvolumes tab.

    • From the list of subvolumes, locate and highlight the @swap subdirectory by selecting it.

    • Click the Delete button.

    • When prompted to confirm, click the Yes button.

  5. Remove or comment entries in the system's fstab file relating to the swap device or subvolume:

    • Edit the fstab file:

      sudo nano /etc/fstab

    • Remove or comment any entries relating to the swap device or subvolume like so:

      #UUID=bzxd1bo8-9nnb-ddet-qykk-qjdgr9yytybg   /swap               btrfs   subvol=/@swap,noatime                                                                                               0 0
#/swap/swapfile                              swap                swap    defaults                                                                                                            0 0

  6. Restart the system and reuse the same step to verify that swap has been disabled.