(dv) Backing up and restoring your files
Overview
This article presents the different types of backup options available for our (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server line of products. After reading this guide, you should be able to determine the right kind of backup for your purposes.
(dv) Snapshot Backups
The Snapshot Backup preserves the entire state of your server, from the core configuration files down to the emails. Recommended use:
- Preserve a working version of your server before making system-level changes, like upgrading PHP or MySQL.
- Keep an off-server backup in (mt) Media Temple's secure Data Center in case your machine gets hacked or becomes corrupted.
- Make a new backup weekly or monthly so your data stays current.
Feature summary
- Complete backup. This includes customizations to the server configuration, all Plesk data, domains, emails, databases - every single file on the server.
- Allows you to roll back to an earlier server state, should you have no other available backups of critical data.
- Peace of mind that your backup is safely housed in our Data Center for quick and easy recovery through Plesk.
- Off-server storage - even if your server's host machine fails, your backup will be safe.
- Create a new backup at any time of your choosing.
- Hold multiple backups (up to 5) by purchasing additional slots. Each slot costs $20 monthly, and can be purchased via the AccountCenter. For instructions, please read this article: (dv):Purchase Snapshot Backup.
(dv) Snapshot Backup limitations
- You cannot schedule automated backups. It's only one button to click, but you do need to manually click it to make a backup. See Backing up a (dv) using the Snapshot Backup Tool for details.
- You cannot pick and choose what gets restored. The entire server will be rolled back to its exact state at the time of the backup.
- You cannot download the backup locally. Due to the large size of these backups (ranging anywhere from 4gb to 60gb), they cannot be sent to you. They can only be recovered through Plesk and are not available for direct download.
How to get a Snapshot Backup
Please see (dv):Snapshot Backup for details and screenshots.
Plesk backup utility
The Plesk backup utility will back up all of the data associated with a single domain, including website files, databases, and email. Recommended use:
- Automate backups of important data.
- Protect against data loss.
- Restore content for one domain without affecting the rest of the server (if a single-domain backup is made).
TIP:
If the screenshots you see here don't match your version of Plesk, please see the (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server 3.5 section. These screenshots are for the (dv) Dedicated-Virtual Server 4.0 and Plesk 10.
Feature summary
- Choose all-server OR domain-level backup: includes website files, databases, and email.
- Store on the server or a remote FTP location of your choice.
- Schedule automatic backups.
- Free.
Instructions for server-level backup
Note: This backup does NOT back up everything on your server, such as high-level configuration files. It backs up Reseller and Client settings in addition to domain content.
- Log into the Plesk Server Administration Panel. See Figure 1:
Figure 1. The Plesk control panel. Click for a larger view. - Click on Tools & Utilities in the left panel. See Figure 2:
Figure 2. Click on Tools & Utilities. - Click on Backup Manager. See Figure 3:
Figure 3. Click on Backup Manager. - Then, you can click on Back Up or Scheduled Backup Settings, depending on whether you want to do a backup right now or set up a schedule. You can also set up a remote repository to store your data. See Figure 4:
Figure 4: You have several backup options available.NOTE:
If the Back Up option is grayed out, please open a request from the AccountCenter to have us set it up for you.
- Now, you will be able to choose which type of backup you want to make, or set up a remote backup repository.
Instructions for single-domain backup
- Log into the Plesk Control Panel for your domain. See Figure 5:
Figure 5. The Plesk Control Panel. Click for a larger view.TIP:
If you log into Plesk with the admin user, you will be in the Server Administration Panel by default. To get to the Control Panel, click on Domains, then on the Control Panel link next to your domain.
You can also create a user that will log into the Control Panel by default, which will save you a few clicks on day-to-day webmaster tasks. See (dv) 4.0 Control Panel user.
- Click on Websites & Domains at the top. See Figure 6:
Figure 6. Click on Websites & Domains. - Click on Backup Manager. See Figure 7:
Figure .7 Click on Backup Manager. - Then, you can click on Back Up or Scheduled Backup Settings, depending on whether you want to do a backup right now or set up a schedule. You can also set up a remote repository to store your data. See Figure 8:
Figure 2: You have several backup options available.NOTE:
If the Back Up option is grayed out, please open a support request from the AccountCenter to have us set it up for you.
- Now, you will be able to choose which type of backup you want to make, or set up a remote backup repository.
Other Plesk options
There are quite a few ways to do batches of backups or single backups. For complete instructions, see the Plesk documentation.
Limitations
- This backup does not back up your high-level configuration files.
- The files are stored in a special Plesk format, which makes them less than ideal for migrations. See (dv):Manually extract Plesk backup files for a possible workaround.
Instructions for the (dv) 3.5
- Log into Plesk.
- Click on Domains in the left panel. See Figure 1:
Figure 1. Click on Domains. - Then, click on your specific domain from the list.
- Then, click on Back up. See Figure 2:
Figure 2: The backup tool is available in your Plesk Control panel.NOTE:
If the Back up option is grayed out, please open a support request from the AccountCenter to have us set it up for you.
Limitations
- This backup does not back up your high-level configuration files.
- The files are stored in a special Plesk format, which makes them less than ideal for migrations. See (dv):Manually extract Plesk backup files for a possible workaround.