All courses
Resource hub
Featured resource
Tech Upskilling Playbook 2025
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Learn more
Hamburger Icon
  • Labs icon Lab
  • Cloud
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Working with Backups and Compression on a Linux Host

When administering a server, it is important to keep backups of important data. In this hands-on lab, you will learn how to use the `tar` command to create compressed archives of files and directories, which will be copied to a backup server using the `rsync` utility.

Get started Contact sales
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 15m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 30, 2025

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Create Backups of Files and Directories on Server01

    • Use the tar command to create a backup of /etc and /var/log using xz compression.
    • Use the tar command to create a backup of /opt/dev using bzip2 compression.
    • List the contents of dev.tbz and capture it in a file called dev_list.txt.

  2. Challenge

    Synchronize Files and Backups to Server02

    • Use rsync to copy dev.tbz, server01.txz, and dev_list.txt on server01 to /home/cloud_user on server02 (use the private IP address provided).
    • Use rsync to synchronize the files in /opt/prod on server01 with /home/cloud_user/prod on server02 (use the private IP address provided).
    • Validate that files were successfully copied to server02.
    • Extract dev.tbz to /home/cloud_user/dev on server02.
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
Author
Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
Ready to get started?
View individual plans View team plans