How do I back up root directory with ReadyNAS?

I'm backing up a Linux machine (Ubuntu 10.04) with rsync over SSH.

If I specify for my path something like "home/jason" it works just fine. "home/jason" is translated into "/home/jason". But how do I back up my root directory, i.e. "/"? Logic would have it that, since a slash gets slapped onto the front of whatever you put for path, a blank path would come through as "/". That's not the case, though. A trick like "home/../" doesn't work, either.

How do I back up the root directory?

From serverfault Jason Swett

• I take it you've tried "/"? If that didn't work, what exactly were the symptoms?

  Jason Swett : The option I use is "Remote: Rsync Server". Since I'm doing a remote backup with rsync, I don't think "Volume: c" would make sense. If I select "Volume: c", the "Host" field gets disabled and other pertinent fields go away as well. Let me know if I'm misunderstanding.

  aix : No, I misread your question and my answer made no sense. Hence the edit.

  Jason Swett : I have tried "/". The error simply said, "Invalid path."
  From aix

• I think you need to create a module for "/" in rsyncd.conf (on the box which you're trying to back up.)

  Something along these lines:

  [root]
    path = /
    comment = "The root directory"
  

  Get rsyncd to reload the config, and you should be able to use "root" as the path in the Frontview GUI.

  See http://linux.die.net/man/5/rsyncd.conf, especially the examples towards the end of the file.

  From aix

• Turns out putting "." works because it translates into "/." which is equivalent to "/".

  From Jason Swett