Snap Backup

If you are comfortable being your own Linux System Administrator or you have highly modified your Linux

environment, you can probably figure out how to run a Java application on your own. These instructions, on the other hand, are intended for business and personal users of Ubuntu Linux running the regular default GNOME desktop.

Follow the steps below to install Snap Backup on Ubuntu. The steps look long but they're actually quite easy.

A: Install Java on Ubuntu

1) Go to the Java Download Page

Open http://www.java.com and click on Download NOW! Now click the Download button for "Linux (self-extracting file)".

2) Save Installer to "~/apps/java" Folder

From the save window in your web browser, create a folder called apps in your home folder and then create a sub-folder within that folder called java. Download the installer file to this new folder (/home/<username>/apps/java).

3) Launch Terminal

You need to run the Java installer from the command-line, which you access with Terminal. In the Applications menu, go into Accessories and select Terminal.

4) Run Installer

From the Terminal, enter these commands:

         $ cd apps/java

         $ ls -l

         $ chmod +x jre*.bin

         $ ./jre*.bin

         $ ln -s jre*/bin bin

The chmod command makes the file executable so you can run it. The ln command creates a symbolic link to the bin folder so it's easier to access.

5) Add Java to Your PATH

While still in the Terminal, enter these commands:

         $ cd ~

         $ echo 'PATH=~/bin:$PATH' >> .gnomerc

         $ cat .gnomerc

         $ mkdir bin

         $ cd bin

         $ ln -s ~/apps/java/bin/java java

The echo command tells the GNOME desktop startup script to add your bin folder to the PATH. The cat command displays the startup script so you can verify your update. If the mkdir command reports that the folder already exists, that's ok.

6) Log Back On

Because the PATH variable is set on startup, you need to log out and then log back in for the Java installation to be complete.

B: Install Snap Backup on Ubuntu

1) Get JAR File

Download the files snapbackup.jar and snap_backup_icon.png into the apps/snapbackup folder (you'll need to create the snapbackup folder).

2) Create Launcher

On an empty spot on the desktop, bring up the context menu (right mouse click) and choose the Create Launcher... option.

3) Configure Launcher Command

In the Name: field, enter "Snap Backup". For the Command: field, use the Browse... button to open the snapbackup.jar file you previously downloaded to the apps/snapbackup folder. Now prepend "java -jar " in front of the full path -- this tells java to launch Snap Backup as a JAR file.

4) Configure Launcher Icon

Click the No Icon button and Browse... to the apps/snapbackup. If the Snap Backup icon is not displayed, refresh the window by clicking on the folder name and hitting the Enter key. Now double-click the Snap Backup icon.

5) Finish

Click the OK button to complete the launcher. For added convenience, you can drag-n-drop the launcher up to the applications bar (panel) at the top of the screen. If you didn't already re-login after installing Java, you will need to do that before using the Snap Backup launcher.