snapper: Essential Snapshot Management

What is snapper?

snapper is a filesystem snapshot management tool (commonly used with Btrfs and other Linux filesystems) that helps you create, list, and delete snapshots. It operates per-config, so you’ll often work with a specific config tied to a directory or mount point.

Quick-start flow

  • List available configs to see what you can manage.
  • Create a config for a path you want to snapshot.
  • Create snapshots with descriptions before risky operations.
  • List and delete as needed.

1) List snapshot configs

This shows the configs you currently have registered.

snapper list-configs

Common pitfall: you might expect a config for every mount. Snapper only shows what’s configured; you may need to create a config for new paths you want snapshotted.

2) Create a snapper config

Create a dedicated config for a directory (path).

snapper -c myconfig create-config /path/to/directory

Notes:

  • Replace myconfig with your desired config name.
  • The path should be a filesystem where snapshots will be stored (snapper often uses Btrfs subvols).

Potential pitfall: running as a regular user may fail if the system requires root privileges or proper permissions. Use sudo when needed.

3) Create a snapshot with a description

Capture the current state before making changes.

snapper -c myconfig create -d "Before big update" "/path/to/directory"
  • The -d/—description helps you remember why this snapshot exists.
  • You can omit the path if the config already points to the target; otherwise include it.

4) List snapshots for a config

See all snapshots tied to a config.

snapper -c myconfig list

Filter quickly by grep if you’re after a specific snapshot description or date:

snapper -c myconfig list | grep -i "Before big update"

Common pitfall: listing snapshots may show many entries. Use date and description to identify the correct one to restore or delete.

5) Delete a single snapshot

Keep your snapshot count under control by removing old entries.

snapper -c myconfig delete 123

Where 123 is the snapshot number shown in the list output.

6) Delete a range of snapshots

If you need to prune several consecutive snapshots:

snapper -c myconfig delete 120-125

This deletes snapshots from 120 through 125 inclusive.

Practical tips

  • Always verify the config and path before creating or deleting snapshots.
  • Prefer descriptive snapshot descriptions, e.g., before major upgrades or configuration changes.
  • If you’re unsure about the filesystem type (Btrfs, LVM, etc.), consult your distro docs or the snapper manpage before heavy use.
  • Regularly prune old snapshots to avoid consuming all space; automated hooks can help, but manual review is wise.

Common mistakes

  • Running snapper commands without the correct -c config or on the wrong path.
  • Deleting snapshots by number without verifying the exact item you’re removing.
  • Assuming every directory has a snapper config by default; you must create configs for paths you want to snapshot.

Where to learn more

  • Snapper man page: snapper —help or man snapper
  • Configuration specifics vary by distro and filesystem; refer to your distribution’s documentation for integration details.

See Also