Complete Dedicated Server Backup

This guide details backing up your dedicated server using cPanel's backup utility. This backup is for the entire dedicated server not just one web server account.


1. Login to your server's WHM as root.

2. Click 'Configure Backup' which is under the backup submenu on the left. (Theme X)

Here is how my backup configuration looks



Note /backup is the mount of your second Hard Drive* If you do NOT have a second harddrive you can do /home/backup but it is NOT suggested you do this. A second drive is alot safer. Another thing to note is you must have atleast double the uesed space still available on your drive to backup to /home/backup.

Choosing how often to backup is up to you, I run my backups weekly, and some months depending on development I run them daily. Note that depending on how large your /home is depends on how long the backup procedure will take. Also if your dedicated server is backing up to another dedicated server via FTP that will take longer because you will want to be backing up to another server in another data center, and this WILL use your bandwidth. Backing up Raw Access Logs is up to you. I choose to back them up because I am a log freak.

Why should I backup to another dedicated server outside my datacenter?
If your DataCenter has any type of failure (earthquake/fire/etc..) your server may be destoryed, so the backup on your second drive is prety worthless. If possible backup onto your 2nd drive daily, and backup onto another server in another datacenter every week.