Restoring deleted file with rm -rf


 
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# 1  
Old 04-11-2016
Restoring deleted file with rm -rf

Is there a way I could recover a deleted text file with "rm -rf" command.

Running CentOS 6.5.

Thank you.
# 2  
Old 04-11-2016
The rm command deletes files; it does not recover lost or deleted files.

Once you have deleted a file, it is generally gone and unrecoverable. If you happen to be using a transactional filesystem, recovery might not be so difficult. Otherwise, if, immediately after removing a file you unmount the filesystem on which it was located without writing any new data to any other file on that filesystem, you might be able to search the free list for that filesystem for blocks that had been assigned to the file you deleted; but how you do that, if it is possible at all, varies considerably based on the filesystem type.
# 3  
Old 04-11-2016
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Cragun
The rm command deletes files; it does not recover lost or deleted files.

Once you have deleted a file, it is generally gone and unrecoverable. If you happen to be using a transactional filesystem, recovery might not be so difficult. Otherwise, if, immediately after removing a file you unmount the filesystem on which it was located without writing any new data to any other file on that filesystem, you might be able to search the free list for that filesystem for blocks that had been assigned to the file you deleted; but how you do that, if it is possible at all, varies considerably based on the filesystem type.
I am running CentOS under a VPS.. i dont think it has backups Smilie So this means my file is lost, right?
# 4  
Old 04-12-2016
Im afraid... Always wise to archive before a rm -rf just in case as nothing is stopping you to remove the archive later once you have checked and see no issue...
# 5  
Old 04-12-2016
Hi.

In a system like:
Code:
OS, ker|rel, machine: Linux, 2.6.32-358.23.2.el6.centos.plus.x86_64, x86_64
Distribution        : CentOS 6.4 (Final)

There appears to be:
Code:
extundelete.x86_64 : An ext3 and ext4 file system undeletion utility
testdisk.x86_64 : Tool to check and undelete partition, PhotoRec recovers lost
                : files

I have no experience with either one.

This could also be considered a valuable (but difficult) learning experience:
1) Have a backup, even if minor (e.g. file.01, file.02, etc).
2) Balance extra resources with risk of losing one's time.
3) It's a rite of passage to destroy something valuable.

I consider my time to be very valuable. So I use a number of strategies to reduce risk. For example, I use virtual machines most of the time. This allows me to do a snapshot, which can restore an entire system in less than 5 minutes (and usually less). I usually do a snapshot just before a big update. After a reboot and few days of smooth running, I fold the snapshot into the running system. I have used VMWare and Virtualbox for that. Requires learning about virtual machines.

I have an external machine contact other machines periodically, say every 4 hours, then do an rsnapshot to capture changed files, rotating to daily, weekly, monthly backups. Rsnapshot knows about LVM volumes, and can create LVM snapshot volumes (not to be confused with virtual machine snapshots, but both use the idea of copy-on-write , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy-on-write), so that the system can be captured without stopping the machine. Requires learning, setup, external machine, and a big disk (I use a big disk in a raw disk dock).

During development work, I use a version control system, like rcs, bzr, etc., to keep a local (to the directory) copy of files in development. Requires learning a bit about version control. More feature-full systems include subversion, git, etc.

Every week or so, I tar up the home directory on my main workstation and store it on a (slow, but large) external drive. This is easiest.

On a Windows box I recently tried cloud backup with Acronis. It was agonizingly slow. It seemed better to backup to a local drive (again in a USB/SATA dock).

I have rarely completely lost a file in the recent past.

Good luck ... cheers, drl
These 2 Users Gave Thanks to drl For This Post:
# 6  
Old 04-12-2016
Kudos to drl for his succinct description of how to handle file security. He has it 100% right.

Quote:
Originally Posted by galford
I am running CentOS under a VPS..
Yes, but this doesn't tell us which filesystem you are running. Possible candidates include "ext2", "ext3", "ext4" (with or without an underlying volume group) and some others.

Quote:
Originally Posted by galford
i dont think it has backups Smilie So this means my file is lost, right?
Essentially: yes. There are some low-level possibilities (see above) to retrieve the content nevertheless, but they all have in common that:

- they need in-depth knowledge of the filesystem involved and are for experts only - try it as a beginner and you are likely to get yourself even deeper into troubles than you are already;

- even then they are not guaranteed to work. Most of these tools are "best effort" and sometimes they work, sometimes they work partly and sometimes they do work not at all;

- the necessity of backups can not be stressed enough and it is a painful (but valuable!) lesson to learn this - unfortunately it seems to be the only way that has a lasting effect. Generations of admins and users have neglected backups and all these generations have been in your shoes once before they started to develop healthy habits. (fwiw: me too ;-) )

You might consider using a desktop environment, like GNOME, KDE or something such. I don't like any of them, but most desktops offer a "waste bin" - a hidden directory of some sorts where "deleted" files and directories go. One can pull them out of there if they were not meant to be deleted. To be honest, I'd rather recommend developing responsible user habits (like double-check if what you type is really what you want), but before that goal is achieved such a "waste bin" might come in handy as a crutch.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
 
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