Backup & Restore Files in DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin includes built-in backup tools for creating and restoring account backups. For server-level automated backups, RemarkableCloud also runs JetBackup: see the JetBackup guide.

Creating a backup (user level)

1. Log into DirectAdmin as the user.
2. Go to Your Account → Create/Restore Backups.
3. Select what to include: Domains, Databases, Emails, FTP accounts.
4. Click Create Backup.
5. DirectAdmin creates a .tar.gz file in your home directory at /home/username/backups/.

Downloading the backup

After creation, download the backup via FTP or File Manager:

1. Go to File Manager
2. Navigate to your home directory → backups/
3. Click the backup file → Download

Or via SCP from your local machine:

scp -P 22 username@YOUR_SERVER_IP:~/backups/backup_username_DATE.tar.gz ./

Scheduling automated backups (admin)

From WHM-equivalent in DirectAdmin (Admin Tools → Admin Backup/Transfer):

1. Go to Admin Tools → Admin Backup/Transfer.
2. Select users to back up: all users or specific ones.
3. Set destination: local path or FTP/SFTP remote server.
4. Under Cron Schedule, set the frequency.
5. Click Run Now to test, then Save Schedule.

Restoring a backup

1. Go to Your Account → Create/Restore Backups → Restore a Backup.
2. If the backup file is already in ~/backups/, it appears in the list. Otherwise upload it via File Manager or FTP first.
3. Select the backup file.
4. Choose what to restore: domains, databases, email.
5. Click Restore.

Restoring overwrites current data: Restoring a backup replaces current files and databases with the backup version. Take a current backup first if you want to preserve recent changes.

Admin-level restore (any account)

As Admin you can restore any user’s backup:

1. Admin Tools → Admin Backup/Transfer → Restore
2. Select the user
3. Upload or select the backup file
4. Click Restore