Backup strategies for dedicated servers
Set up reliable backups for your dedicated server: WHM backup configuration, rsync to remote storage, automated database dumps, and off-server backup options.
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Dedicated servers host all your client accounts-a backup failure can mean losing everything for multiple clients simultaneously. A robust, tested backup strategy is non-negotiable on a dedicated server.
WHM backup configuration
If you have cPanel/WHM, configure automated backups under WHM → Backup → Backup Configuration:
- Enable Backup Status
- Set backup type: Compressed (saves disk space)
- Configure retention: daily (keep 7), weekly (keep 4), monthly (keep 2) is a good starting point
- Set backup time to off-peak hours (e.g., 2am)
- Configure a remote destination (FTP, SFTP, S3, or Google Drive) so backups are stored off-server
- Ensure the backup destination has enough storage for all account backups
Storing backups only on the dedicated server means a disk failure or server compromise can destroy both the data and the backups simultaneously. Always configure a remote backup destination.
Remote backup destinations
| Option | Setup | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SFTP server | A second VPS or NAS with SSH access | Cheap, full control |
| Amazon S3 | AWS S3 bucket with IAM credentials | Highly reliable, pay for storage used |
| Backblaze B2 | B2 bucket via S3-compatible API | Much cheaper than S3; WHM supports B3 natively |
| Google Drive | Google account with Drive API | WHM supports it; good for smaller setups |
R1Soft / Imunify backup
R1Soft CDP (Continuous Data Protection) and Imunify360's backup module provide block-level incremental backups-very efficient for large servers. Ask UnderHost about R1Soft backup options if you need enterprise-grade backup for your dedicated server.
Database backup
WHM's built-in backup includes databases if configured. For additional database-only backups, schedule a cron job:
#!/bin/bash
DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
mysqldump -u root -p'password' --all-databases | gzip > /backups/db-$DATE.sql.gz
# Upload to remote
rsync /backups/db-$DATE.sql.gz user@backup-server:/remote-backups/Recommended strategy for dedicated servers
- WHM backups: daily (7-day retention) + weekly (4-week retention) to remote SFTP or S3
- Database dumps: hourly mysqldump for critical databases with high transaction volume
- Monthly archive: a full monthly backup retained for 3–6 months for compliance/recovery
- Test restores quarterly: restore a test account from backup to verify integrity
Need backup assistance?
Contact our NOC team for help with backup configuration on your dedicated server.
