cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/31907670
When I use the Timeshift GUI to create a snapshot, it takes a very long time to complete. If I click Cancel, my desktop environment crashes and I get kicked to a black screen or a login prompt.
When I use Timeshift CLI, it creates the snapshot in less than a second, but the command waits for a long time afterward. However, it can be safely interrupted with control-C.
Timeshift is in BTRFS mode.
Output of Timeshift command, interrupted
Using system disk as snapshot device for creating snapshots in BTRFS mode Mounted '/dev/dm-0 (sda3)' at '/run/timeshift/33685/backup' btrfs: Quotas are not enabled Creating new backup...(BTRFS) Saving to device: /dev/dm-0, mounted at path: /run/timeshift/33685/backup Created directory: /run/timeshift/33685/backup/timeshift-btrfs/snapshots/2025-01-29_15-21-49 Created subvolume snapshot: /run/timeshift/33685/backup/timeshift-btrfs/snapshots/2025-01-29_15-21-49/@ Created control file: /run/timeshift/33685/backup/timeshift-btrfs/snapshots/2025-01-29_15-21-49/info.json BTRFS Snapshot saved successfully (0s) ^C #output of time command real 0m1.165s user 0m0.004s sys 0m0.009sOutput of Timeshift command, run to completion
[Warning] Deleted invalid lock Using system disk as snapshot device for creating snapshots in BTRFS mode Mounted '/dev/dm-0 (sda3)' at '/run/timeshift/32947/backup' btrfs: Quotas are not enabled Creating new backup...(BTRFS) Saving to device: /dev/dm-0, mounted at path: /run/timeshift/32947/backup Created directory: /run/timeshift/32947/backup/timeshift-btrfs/snapshots/2025-01-29_15-13-13 Created subvolume snapshot: /run/timeshift/32947/backup/timeshift-btrfs/snapshots/2025-01-29_15-13-13/@ Created control file: /run/timeshift/32947/backup/timeshift-btrfs/snapshots/2025-01-29_15-13-13/info.json BTRFS Snapshot saved successfully (0s) Tagged snapshot '2025-01-29_15-13-13': ondemand ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maximum backups exceeded for backup level 'weekly' #output of time command real 1m12.419s user 0m0.001s sys 0m0.009sPossibly related to this bug?
Hmmm… so reading up, Timeshift doesn’t automatically delete manual backups. Have you tried removing your old manual backups and trying again? This is just a hunch, but I feel as though Timeshift is looking through all of your old backups after you manually create a new one in order to apply appropriate tags. I think that’s why it’s telling you that the maximum weekly backups have been exceeded; because its checking every one of them.
Honestly, I’m just getting back into the Linux game after a couple years so I’m probably off, but it couldn’t hurt to delete a majority of your old, unneeded backups and check.
I tried deleting the old backups, it still takes about a minute to complete the snapshot. I think it only limits weekly backups, and manual backups are unlimited. Weekly backups are completely fine, and manual is where the problem lies.