rsync_backup

#!/bin/sh
#set -x

PROG=$0

# Install an updated rsync using homebrew with the instructions here:
# http://blog.jm3.net/2012/07/30/os-x-rsync
RSYNC="/usr/local/bin/rsync"

SRC="/"
DST="/Volumes/Joe's Backup"

# Shutdown time machine if it's running
/usr/bin/logger -t $PROG "Disable Time Machine"
sudo tmutil disable

# Sync the backup disk
/usr/bin/logger -t $PROG "Start rsync"

# rsync options
# -v increase verbosity
# -a turns on archive mode (recursive copy + retain attributes)
# -x don't cross device boundaries (ignore mounted volumes)
# -E preserve executability
# -S handle sparse files efficiently
# --delete delete deletes any files that have been deleted locally
# --exclude-from reference a list of files to exclude
sudo $RSYNC -vaxE -S --delete --exclude-from=$HOME/.rsync_excludes.txt "$SRC" "$DST"

/usr/bin/logger -t $PROG "End rsync"

# Re-enable time machine
/usr/bin/logger -t $PROG "Disable Time Machine"
sudo tmutil enable

# make the backup bootable
sudo bless -folder "$DST"/System/Library/CoreServices

exit 0

rsync_excludes.txt

.Spotlight-*/
.Trashes
/tmp/*
/Network/*
/cores/*
/afs/*
/automount/*
/private/tmp/*
/private/var/run/*
/private/var/spool/postfix/*
/private/var/vm/*
/Previous Systems.localized
/Volumes/*
*/.Trash