Backing up windows pc to a remote server

backup_windows.md

Here is a detailed to set up encrypted, compressed, automated weekly backups from a Windows PC to your Ubuntu server using Restic over SFTP — just like we did with your Parrot OS system.

---

✅ What You'll Get

• Only specific folders backed up (you choose)
• Encrypted and compressed backups using Restic
• Secure transfer over SSH (SFTP)
• Automatic weekly backups (using Task Scheduler)
• Easy restore process

---

🧱 Step-by-Step Guide for Windows → Ubuntu Server Backups

---

🖥️ 1. Install Restic on Windows

1. Download the latest Restic release: 👉 https://restic.net/

2. Extract the restic.exe file into a folder like:

   C:\Program Files\Restic\
   

3. Add Restic to the system PATH:

   • Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl

   • Go to Advanced > Environment Variables

   • Under System Variables, edit Path, add:

     C:\Program Files\Restic\
     

4. Open a new Command Prompt and test:

   restic version

✅ If it prints the version, Restic is installed.

---

🔐 2. Set Up SSH Access to Ubuntu Server

You’ll need an SSH key pair for passwordless access.

a. Install OpenSSH client (usually pre-installed)

Check:

where ssh

If not installed:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features > Add a feature
• Add OpenSSH Client

---

b. Generate SSH key pair

In PowerShell:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519

Press Enter to accept the default path and no passphrase.

This creates:

• Public key: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub
• Private key: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\.ssh\id_ed25519

c. Copy the public key to your Ubuntu server

Use PowerShell:

type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub | ssh backupuser@<server_ip> "mkdir -p ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"

Test SSH connection:

ssh backupuser@<server_ip>

✅ You should be logged in without a password.

---

📂 3. Initialize the Backup Repository (Once)

Set environment variables temporarily in Command Prompt:

set RESTIC_REPOSITORY=sftp:backupuser@<server_ip>:/srv/backups/windows-pc
set RESTIC_PASSWORD=YourStrongPassword

restic init

✅ If successful, it says:

"created restic repository..."

---

📁 4. Create a Restic Backup Script (.bat)

Create a file: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\restic-backup.bat

Example:

@echo off
setlocal

REM === Configuration ===
set RESTIC_REPOSITORY=sftp:backupuser@<server_ip>:/srv/backups/windows-pc
set RESTIC_PASSWORD=YourStrongPassword
set RESTIC_EXCLUDES=%USERPROFILE%\restic-exclude.txt

REM === Run Backup ===
restic backup ^
  "C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents" ^
  "C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Pictures" ^
  --exclude-file "%RESTIC_EXCLUDES%"

REM === Forget old backups ===
restic forget --keep-weekly 4 --prune

endlocal

✅ Change paths as needed.

---

🚫 5. (Optional) Exclude File Types or Folders

Create: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\restic-exclude.txt

Example content:

*.mp4
*.iso
C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Downloads

---

🧪 6. Test Your Script

Double-click restic-backup.bat or run it in cmd.

You should see:

• Files backed up
• Snapshots created
• Old ones pruned

✅ Backup complete!

---

⏰ 7. Automate Weekly with Task Scheduler

1. Open Task Scheduler

2. Create Task

   • General:

     • Name: Weekly Restic Backup
     • Run whether user is logged in or not
     • Run with highest privileges

3. Trigger:

   • New → Weekly → Monday → 3:00 AM

4. Action:

   • Program/script: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\restic-backup.bat

5. Save and enter your Windows password when prompted.

✅ Now Restic will run automatically each week.

---

🔁 8. Restore Files (When Needed)

To see backups:

restic snapshots

To restore:

restic restore latest --target C:\RestoredFiles

---

✅ Done!

You now have automated, encrypted, incremental, compressed backups from Windows to Ubuntu, using only:

• Restic
• SSH
• Task Scheduler