Qn about rsnapshot/rsync directory filter rules

[Patrick O'Callaghan]

On Sun, 2011-02-20 at 16:49 -0800, suvayu ali wrote:
> Hi Patrick,
> 
> On Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 5:32 AM, Patrick O'Callaghan
> <pocallaghan at gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sun, 2011-02-20 at 01:20 -0800, Suvayu Ali wrote:
> >> I wish to understand the filter so that I can build the entire rule
> >> set
> >> in layers. Something like this,
> >>
> >> 1. ignore all files
> >> 2. add backup_root/dir1
> >> 3. add backup_root/some_file
> >>
> >> So the subsequent layers overrule (I think logically its an OR) the
> >> previous rule set. This way the backup process will ignore files
> >> unless
> >> other wise specified. Is that possible? Or am I asking for something
> >> which is achieved more easily/differently?
> >
> > Can't you just run rsnapshot on backup_root? I'm afraid I don't really
> > understand what you're trying to do.
> >
> 
> Sorry I wasn't clear. I am trying to setup my include/exclude ruleset
> on the sending side instead of as a global setting as I intend to back
> up multiple machines simultaneously. I wasn't getting the desired
> results when I was using directory filters. I think it was because I
> had misunderstood how rsync uses the filter rules for directory
> specific filters. My problem was I had put the exclude rules _before_
> the include rules, so rsync was skipping the directories before my
> include rules could take effect.

The include/exclude rules are just passed through to rsync. The man page
for rsync has a fairly extensive discussion of the syntax. I don't see a
direct statement that the rules are evaluated in strict order, but it
seems natural.

poc