How to completely backup VPS

[Pawel Kowalski]

I have WHM with cpanel and what I would like to know is how do I completely backup my VPS with all the account informaiton, emails, mySQL databases, etc. I see that WHM does have a backup option that will allow me to save everything in my account or on a FTP server, but does this actually work well or is there a better method of doing it?

[Vin DSL]

I don't have VPS -- I have SDX -- but the same principles apply...

Personally, I shell into my account using PuTTY, go as far up the tree as jailsHELL allows, and TAR my whole account from CLI. After that, I use phpMyAdmin to dump my sql dbs. Then, download everything to my PC.

That's about as complete a backup as it gets, at least for me.

Since you have root access, I suppose you could TAR the whole kit and caboodle!

[Pawel Kowalski]

Looking in cPanel, I have the following option for backing up mySQL databases:

Sql Databases (at least per accounts is needed to use the restore feature)
-Per Accounts Only
-Per Accounts and Entire Mysql Dir
-Mysql Dir Only

Also, I see the VPS page says "FREE daily backups". How much does it cost to restore from these back ups and can these back ups be restored on a per account basis and not on the entire VPS?

[Pawel Kowalski]

I don't have VPS -- I have SDX -- but the same principles apply...

Personally, I shell into my account using PuTTY, go as far up the tree as jailsHELL allows, and TAR my whole account from CLI. After that, I use phpMyAdmin to dump my sql dbs. Then, download everything to my PC.

That's about as complete a backup as it gets, at least for me.

Since you have root access, I suppose you could TAR the whole kit and caboodle!

Thanks, so I would tar all of this?

./              .bash_logout   .cpobjcache/  .spamassassin/  cpanel3-skel/
../             .bash_profile  .cshrc        .ssh/           public_ftp/
.MirrorSearch/  .bashrc        .gnupg/       .steam/         public_html/
.bash_history   .cpcpan/       .rnd          .tcshrc

My biggest worry (which I guess I should have mentioned in my OP) is that I have to be able to restore individual accounts as I run a lot of message boards and they are prone to hacking. If one message board fails I don't want to have to restore all the sites back a week just to get that 1 site going.

[Rob]

why don't you just go into virtuozzo and do a system backup?

[Vin DSL]

Thanks, so I would tar all of this?

./              .bash_logout   .cpobjcache/  .spamassassin/  cpanel3-skel/
../             .bash_profile  .cshrc        .ssh/           public_ftp/
.MirrorSearch/  .bashrc        .gnupg/       .steam/         public_html/
.bash_history   .cpcpan/       .rnd          .tcshrc

Yep!

Plus your sql dbs...

[Pawel Kowalski]

why don't you just go into virtuozzo and do a system backup?

This is what I get:

The backup creation is not allowed.

[JPC-Veena]

Virtuozzo backups are done by us daily automatically, it is not possible to extract per account backups from the vz backup, it is more like an image of the entire server. If you need per account backups, best option for you would be to use the whm backups and better yet, whm backup to remote ftp location like our managed backup services.

[JPC-Masood]

My biggest worry (which I guess I should have mentioned in my OP) is that I have to be able to restore individual accounts as I run a lot of message boards and they are prone to hacking.

My biggest worry is why you are hosting vulnerable applications that are prone to hacking? Why not secure them?

[Pawel Kowalski]

Veena, ok I ran my first back up yesterday using the FTP option so I could store it on a remote server. I now have a tar file for each account, but does this include all the mySQL settings? Did it also save WHM settings such as name servers, account information, etc?

I would try the Virtuozzo option but for some reason it says "back up creating is not allowed"? Is JPC blocking this or is something not set up right on my end?

Masood, I update each script as soon as an update is available. The problem is as you probably know any script that has its source out on the internet available for download is prone to hacking. So I take all the percautions I can, from storing each message board on its own account to never using the same password for you account and mysql databases, but even with that having reliable back ups is your biggest ally in this game. This is why if anything happens I want to be able to restore an entire web site easily without affecting other accounts.

[JPC-Veena]

Yes, it includes mysql, email, site files, email aliases etc. If it is a reseller account, whm settings of the reseller will be saved. Other whm settings are not part of any cpanel backups.

Veena, ok I ran my first back up yesterday using the FTP option so I could store it on a remote server. I now have a tar file for each account, but does this include all the mySQL settings? Did it also save WHM settings such as name servers, account information, etc?