backup.rb

require 'rubygems'
require 'activesupport'

def rsync(directories, from, to, options = {})
  options.reverse_merge!(:rsync => "-varRu",
                         :remote => true)
  
  directories.each do |dir|
    destination = options[:remote] ? "#{from}:/#{dir}" : "/#{dir}"
    command = "rsync #{options[:rsync]} #{destination} #{to}"
    puts command
    system(command)
  end
end


FROM = 'user@url.to-my.server'
DIRECTORIES = %w(home etc/nginx etc/haproxy)
TO = '/path/for/backup'
OPTIONS = { :rsync => '--progress -varRu' }

rsync DIRECTORIES, FROM, TO, OPTIONS