What happens if a file is modified while the backup is taking place?
• A: In rsync, transfers are done to a temporary file, which is cut over atomically, so the transfer either happens in its entirety or not at all. Basically, rsync does “the right thing,” so you won’t end up with partially-backed-up files. Thanks to Filippo Carletti for pointing this out. If you absolutely need a snapshot from a single instant in time, consider using Sistina’s LVM (see reference above).
