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Server Backup Guide
Never lose data, even when hardware fails
A complete backup strategy for self-hosted infrastructure. Covers every layer — databases, files, configs, and secrets — with automated verification so you know your backups actually work before you need them.
// at a glance
- ▸ 35+ pages covering databases, files, secrets, and disaster recovery
- ▸ Includes ready-to-use backup scripts and cron configurations
- ▸ Automated verification — know your backups work before you need them
- ▸ Battle-tested on a server running 15 production apps
// who this is for
Anyone running self-hosted services who doesn't have a tested backup strategy yet. Especially relevant if you're on a single server and a disk failure means downtime.
// table of contents
01
Backup Strategy Design
RPO, RTO, the 3-2-1 rule, and choosing what to back up vs rebuild
02
PostgreSQL Backups
pg_dump, pg_basebackup, point-in-time recovery, and per-database scheduling
03
File System Backups
rsync, incremental snapshots, hard links, and bandwidth-efficient transfers
04
Application State
Backing up uploads, MinIO buckets, environment files, and service configs
05
Secrets & Credentials
Encrypting sensitive backups, GPG automation, and key management
06
Off-Site Replication
Remote targets, SSH-based sync, object storage backends, and geographic redundancy
07
Automation & Scheduling
Cron jobs, systemd timers, retention policies, and pruning old backups
08
Verification & Testing
Automated restore tests, integrity checks, and alerting on backup failures
09
Disaster Recovery
Full server rebuild procedure, priority ordering, and recovery time targets
10
Monitoring Backups
Freshness checks, size tracking, dashboard integration, and failure notifications