Knowledge base

The service allows you to create backups automatically and manage the backup process on your server without your participation. The backups you create are loaded into a separate storage and are always available regardless of the state of your server.

It is a universal service: automatic backups are available for both virtual and dedicated servers. 

If you use ISPmanager control panel, backup can be made through the built-in module, if not -  by the means of our application.

• Requirements
• How does it work
• What to backup
• Storage volume
• Backups storage period
• Additional settings
• Downloading and restoring backups
• Backups enabling
• Pricing

Requirements

• A working server
• Correct server time
• 22 port opened for SSH connection 
• Server accessibility for the support service with authorization key 
• For servers with ISPmanager. The panel’s version is 5.272 or newer. 

Server access is required for automatic service configuration and backup monitoring. The SSH connection and support key are configured on the server by default: if you did not change the SSH port or remove the support key manually, there is nothing to worry about, everything will work.

How does it work

After you enable the service, the system will automatically configure the backup:

• for servers with ISPmanager — the system configures backup settings through the built-in module (section Tools - Backup copies),
• for servers without a control panel — the system downloads and configures the application for backup, adds a schedule for creating copies to the scheduler.

The system will also automatically allocate independent disk space on a separate server. Access to this data will be indicated in the Personal Account in the instruction to your server (section Virtual servers/Dedicated servers — select a server and press Instructions button). 

Backups are started once a day during the minimum user activity period from 11 pm to 2 am (UTC). During the creation of backups, the server continues to work normally.

What to backup

There are two types of backups - full (weekly) and differential (daily), that include changes to the last full copy. 

The data to be backuped:

• For servers with ISPmanager control panel — website files, databases, user settings;
• For servers without a control panel — /var/www (website files) /etc (server configurations) /home (user settings).

Storage volume

• For virtual server — the volume of storage is 5 times bigger than the volume of the disk of your VPS;
• For dedicated server - 300Gb. Can be increased to 4Tb. 

When a new copy is created successfully, the obsolete copy will be deleted. If there is not enough space to create the copy, the system will send you an error notification.

Backups storage period

Additional settings

Backup will start working automatically after enabling the service, no additional actions are required. However, you can make individual configurations if necessary.

For servers with ISPmanager control panel you can configure:

• total volume of backups,
• total amount of full and daily copies,
• files and databases to be excluded from backups.

In order to do so, go to Tools —Backup copies.

For servers without a control panel you can configure:

• list of directories to be backuped,
• database copying settings,
• total amount of full copies, etc..

You can configure it in your Client Area — Virtual servers / Dedicated servers — select a server and press Backup button in the upper menu. 

In order to copy databases, you’ll need access for a database server. Please check the instrurction for details on how to provide it. 

Downloading and restoring backups

The exact procedure depends on your system:

Backups enabling

The service can be enabled both when ordering a new server on our website or in the Client Area, and for an existing server.

Enabling the service when ordering a new server from the website: 

1. Check the Automatic backup box at the second step. 
2. Complete the order 
3. After the server is activated, backups will be configured automatically. The first copy will be created according to the schedule

Enabling the service when ordering a new server from your Client area:

1. Choose the Auto-backup option in the Backup field. 
2. Complete the order 
3. After the server is activated, backups will be configured automatically. The first copy will be created according to the schedule

   

Enabling the service for already activated server:

1. Log into your client area at my.ispserver.com.
2. Go to Services — Virtual servers or Dedicated servers.
3. Select the server where you want to enable backups.
4. Press Edit.

   

5. Choose the Automatic backup option in the Backup field.

   

6. Press OK and an automatic configuration will start. 

To keep you informed whether backpacks are created correctly, we have created a backup monitoring system. It checks for a current copy on the external backpack disk. Next, the system checks the backup logs on your server for errors in the backup process. If problems are detected during the check, you'll receive a notification to your Client Area asking for confirmation of starting a diagnostics.

Important information:

• If you delete a service that has autobackups enabled, backups are also deleted.
• If you disable the automatic backup service, backups are deleted.
• The backup process consumes server resources (processor, memory, network).
• If you enabled autobackups for the server with ISPmanager, and decided to stop using the panel, the autobackups will be reconfigured automatically to work without the panel.
• If there will be problems with backups, you will be notified that your participation is required.

Pricing