pobsync

pobsync is a pull-based backup service. It runs on a central backup server and pulls data from remote machines via rsync over SSH.

The refactor direction is SQL-first:

• Django is the management layer and source of truth.
• SQLite is the default database; MariaDB is optional.
• Backups still use the existing rsync snapshot engine internally.
• Scheduling is handled by a Django/Docker scheduler process, not host cron.
• Legacy YAML import/export exists only for migration and inspection.

Requirements

On the backup server or in the container:

• Python 3.11+
• rsync
• ssh
• SSH key-based access from the backup server to remotes

Local Development

python3 -m venv .venv
. .venv/bin/activate
python3 -m pip install -e .
mkdir -p var
python3 manage.py migrate
python3 manage.py createsuperuser
python3 manage.py runserver

The admin is available at:

• http://127.0.0.1:8000/admin/

SQL-First Setup

Create global config:

pobsync configure-global --backup-root /mnt/backups/pobsync

Create a host config:

pobsync configure-host <host> --address <host-or-ip>

Run a backup:

pobsync backup <host> --prune

Create or update a schedule:

pobsync schedule <host> --cron "15 2 * * *" --prune

Run the scheduler:

pobsync scheduler --loop --interval 60

Plan or apply retention manually:

pobsync retention <host>
pobsync retention <host> --apply --yes --max-delete 10

Discover snapshots already present on disk:

pobsync discover-snapshots --host <host>

The pobsync executable is a thin wrapper around Django management commands. Direct Django access is also available:

pobsync django check
python3 manage.py run_pobsync_backup <host> --prune

Migration Helpers

Import existing legacy YAML configs:

python3 manage.py import_pobsync_configs --prefix /opt/pobsync

Export SQL config to legacy runtime YAML for inspection or one-off compatibility:

python3 manage.py export_pobsync_configs --prefix /opt/pobsync

These commands are migration helpers, not the normal operating model.

Docker With SQLite

docker compose up --build web

This starts Django on:

• http://127.0.0.1:8000/admin/

Run the scheduler alongside the web admin:

docker compose up --build web scheduler

The container persists /opt/pobsync and the SQLite database in Docker volumes.

Docker With MariaDB

docker compose --profile mariadb up --build web-mariadb

With the scheduler:

docker compose --profile mariadb up --build web-mariadb scheduler-mariadb

SQLite remains the default because it is enough for a single backup server and keeps deployment simple.

Current Architecture

The public command surface is Django-first. The old YAML/cron CLI has been retired from the pobsync entrypoint. Discovered snapshots are stored in SnapshotRecord, including the base snapshot metadata and a nullable SQL link to the base record when it is known. The Django retention command plans from SnapshotRecord instead of rediscovering snapshots from the filesystem.

The remaining internal engine code still contains reusable backup primitives:

• snapshot naming and metadata
• rsync command construction and execution
• retention planning and pruning
• host locking

Next refactor targets:

• Surface SnapshotRecord data through API/admin views instead of filesystem inspection.
• Move post-backup pruning onto the SQL retention service.
• Move more snapshot lifecycle details into typed domain objects.
• Replace remaining dictionary-shaped config at engine boundaries.
• Remove legacy YAML import/export once production migration no longer needs it.