---
name: "svn-fast-backup"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "subversion-tools"
version: "1.9.5-1+deb9u5"
release: "Debian 9 (Stretch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/svn-fast-backup"
---

# svn-fast-backup(1)

very fast backup for Subversion fsfs repositories.

## NAME

svn-fast-backup - very fast backup for Subversion fsfs repositories.

## SYNOPSIS

**svn-fast-backup** \[**-q**\] \[**-k**{*N*\|*all*}\] \[**-f**\] \[**-t**\] \[**-s**\] *repos\_path* *backup\_dir*

## DESCRIPTION

**svn-fast-backup** uses **rsync** snapshots for very fast backup of a Subversion **fsfs** repository at *repos\_path* to *backup\_dir*/*repos-rev*, the latest revision number in the repository.  Multiple **fsfs** backups share data via hardlinks, so old backups are almost free, since a newer revision of a repository is almost a complete superset of an older revision.

This is good for replacing incremental log-dump+restore-style backups because it is just as space-conserving and even faster; there is no inter-backup state (old backups are essentially caches); each backup directory is self-contained.  It has the same command-line interface as [**svn-hot-backup**(1)](/svn-hot-backup/1.md) (if you use  **--force**), but only works for **fsfs** repositories.

**svn-fast-backup** keeps 64 backups by default and deletes backups older than these; this can be adjusted with the **-k** option.

## OPTIONS

- **-h**, **--help**

  Shows some brief help text.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Quieter-than-usual operation.

- **-k**, **--keep=*N***

  Keep a specified number of backups; the default is to keep 64.

- **-k**, **--keep=all**

  Do not delete any old backups at all.

- **-f**, **--force**

  Make a new backup even if one with the current revision exists.

- **-t**, **--trace**

  Show actions.

- **-s**, **--simulate**

  Don't perform actions.

## AUTHOR

Voluntary contributions made by many individuals.  Copyright © 2006 CollabNet.