How to Backup and Restore sites in Plesk?

Introduction

Frequent backups of your site prevent the unexpected loss of data or site failures. A good backup makes it possible to recover and restore all files and settings quickly and easily. This tutorial will discuss how to perform a manual backup of your site, how to schedule an automatic backup, and how to restore your site using a saved file with Plesk.

Understanding Site Backup

A site backup is just a copy of all the files of the site, databases, and settings. Store this copy safely. In case something goes wrong, such as a hack or a server crash, the backup manager of Plesk lets you easily manage these backups, keeping your data safe and business running smoothly.

Backup Your Site Manually

You can take an immediate backup anytime. This allows you to select the precise data to be saved and the location where the backup file will be saved.

Creating an Immediate Backup

These steps will help you create a complete or partial backup quickly.

Log in to Plesk

Use your login information to log in to the Plesk control panel and have access to the backup tools as an administrator.

Go to Websites & Domains

Click on the left sidebar, under the Websites and Domains (or Domains), to access your hosted sites.

Open the Backup Manager

Click on Backup Manager in the right sidebar. The primary backup interface will appear.

Start the Backup Process

In the Backup Manager page, click on the Back Up button. The configuration screen will appear.

Choose Backup Content and Settings

Select your settings in the Backup content and Backup section:

Domain configuration -To backup the content and settings of the websites.
Mail configuration and content – To back up all the email data
User files and database – Add more users and database information
Store in – Displays where the backups are stored; an external FTP server can also be chosen.
Full – Get a full backup of all your server data.
Incremental – Backs up content that has been changed since your very last backup.
Comments – Make personal notes regarding your backup to refer to later.
Exclude log files – Do not want to back up the log files.
Exclude certain files – Type a file path to exclude certain data.
Send notification email – Give an email address where to get error notifications that occur during the backup process.
Suspend the domain – Choose this to suspend the domain while the backup is running; the site will temporarily go offline.

Confirm and Start

Click on the OK option after making all the above settings. The backup starts. Allow a few minutes for the backup to appear in the Backup Manager list successfully.

Steps to Schedule Backups

Automatic scheduling is effective and useful for continuous safety. Set your backups to run periodically automatically.

Setting Up Automated Backup Intervals

This process will ensure that your site is automatically backed up.

Log in to Plesk

Go to Websites & Domains

To see your domains, click on the left sidebar on Websites and Domains.

Open the Backup Manager

Click on the Backup Manager to open the backup section in the right sidebar.

Visit the Schedule Settings

Click on the Schedule button on the Backup Manager page. This opens the scheduled backup configuration screen.

Define the Backup Frequency

When selecting the backup frequency in the ‘Schedule’ section, it can be daily, weekly, or monthly.

Choose Type and Retention

Choose the type of backup (full or incremental). Indicate the duration of Plesk backup files on the server.

Customize Backup Settings

The Backup settings section allows you to adjust additional options. Set these settings as per your specific requirements, similar to a manual backup.

Save the Schedule

Click ‘OK’. Plesk will then configure and activate the scheduled backup.

Steps to Restore Your Site

Restoring means putting the saved backup files back on the server, undoing any issues that occurred after the backup.

Restoring from a Saved Backup File

These steps can be used to restore your site using a previous backup file.

Log in to Plesk

Enter the Plesk panel and enter the Backup Manager.

Go to Websites & Domains

To manage your domain, click on the left sidebar on ‘Websites and Domains’.

Open the Backup Manager

To view all the backup files, select the Backup Manager option from the right-hand sidebar.

Select the Backup File

Click on the specific backup to be restored; the restore process commences.

Choose Restoration Scope

Select one of the following under ‘What do you want to restore?’

Selected objects – Restore a selected object, like a single database or file.

All objects (entire system) – Select this option only if you want to restore the entire site and all its configurations.

Customise Restoration Options

In Restoration options, you can customize the restore settings. Set these options as per your needs, such as mapping restored data to different users.

Execute the Restore

Click on the ‘Restore’. Plesk will begin restoring the backup file to your hosting environment.

Secure Backup Infrastructure of Cantech

The security and reliability of the data are the key focus of the hosting solutions that Cantech provides. Our environment is reliable and geared towards quick and reliable backup procedures in Plesk. We ensure that your information is not lost and can be easily retrieved. Our site provides you with the means and authority to protect your data in full.

Conclusion

Generating, scheduling, and restoring backups in Plesk is a necessity for all website owners. These steps will help you to secure your data in case of unforeseen events, reduce downtime, and restore the data quickly in case of any problem. You have just learned to operate the powerful Backup Manager of Plesk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between a Full and an Incremental backup?

A Full backup is used to copy all that is on your system every time it is run. An Incremental backup only captures the data that has been added or modified since the last time the backup was done.

Should we save the backups in the local server or an external FTP server?

It is much safer to save the backups on an external FTP server or off-site storage area. A local backup on the machine would be lost in the event of failure of your main server.

Does an Incremental backup save space?

Yes. Incremental backups save a lot less disk space as compared to running a complete backup on a daily basis. They do not store all the changes, but only the minor changes that have occurred since the last backup.

Can I restore a backup if my domain is suspended?

Yes. It is possible to restore a backup when the domain is suspended. The recovery procedure operates on the files and data that are behind it, whether the domain is online or not.

What should I choose when I just want to restore one file only?

Select the option of the ‘Selected Objects’ option when restoring. Go and then select the file that you need to recover.