Backup file error

[Pens]

I'm looking to move everything to a new server and as a start have tried to make a backup of the old server.

I create a backup using the Admin Backup/Transfer, Site Backup, with everything ticked
I creates a backup, in this case, 'backup-Oct-20-2025-2.tar.zst',
I've downloaded it but when I try to extract it I get

A folder Backup is created which looks as it contains everything except the {domain}/email/data/imap folder is empty.

Am I missing something that needs the imap data backed up?

 

[Richard G]

I creates a backup, in this case, 'backup-Oct-20-2025-2.tar.zst',

That is not an admin backup/tranfer, that is a user backup. This can only be made at user level and you should restore that at user level.
When using admin backup/transfer then a backup is made called something like user.admin.accountname.tar.zst for example.

Still odd, as both the admin backup/transfer backups and the userlevel backups should contain the imap folders when everything works in good order.
Question is if the backup succeeded as it gives an error, which is something a bit better clue and more to the point than "imap folder is empty". Because the latter is most likely caused by the error.

First decide if you want to use admin backup/transfer or user backup. If you have multiple accounts I would suggest to use the admin backup/transfer method.
Since you have an issue, first make the backup then check the backup after it's made, for example look into the archive with Midnight Commander.
Also check your system message is they report the backup is made correctly.

Be aware to have enough free space to create the backups too.

 

[Pens]

Hi Richard

Thanks,

I am doing it from admin and the backup contains all the domains but it is putting the backup file in /home/admin/backups not /home/admin/admin_backups.

I do get the email "A new message or response with subject:
Your backups are now ready
has arrived for you to view.
Follow this link to view it:"

It is possible I'm running out of disk space but shouldn't DirectAdmin put up an error to say so?
Regards

Nick

 

[Richard G]

but it is putting the backup file in /home/admin/backups not /home/admin/admin_backups

Oke 2 things, you can define the destination forum yourself. So it might be set to /home/admin/backups but then you best change that to /home/admin/admin_backups again.
However, this does not change the fact that the filename you were showing is a user backup and not an admin backup/transfer backup.

You should check this first.

but shouldn't DirectAdmin put up an error to say so?

Normally yes. But it can happen. However, if you're running out of disk space, you might want to free some space first to be sure and then use the remote backup option, than backups are transferred instantly to the remote server. It should get into the remote servers /home/admin/admin_backup folder.

Another option is to for example not backup all accounts at once, but for example the first 5 accounts then the next and so on.

And a 3rd option is to only tick account and website stuff and backup and restore mail stuff seperately via rsync for example.

Other option, backup and restore admin first and the biggest account. After restore, remove that account but keep the backup on the remote server. This way you have some free space again and you can work further.

 

[Pens]

Oke 2 things, you can define the destination forum yourself. So it might be set to /home/admin/backups but then you best change that to /home/admin/admin_backups again.

OK, do you know where I change that?

Another option is to for example not backup all accounts at once, but for example the first 5 accounts then the next and so on.

I've just backed up one domain and again no imap (or public_html), same extract error.
The backup-options.list shows
autoresponder
database
database_data
database_data_aware
dns
domain
email
email_data
email_data_aware
emailsettings
forwarder
ftp
ftpsettings
list
subdomain
trash
trash_aware
vacation

And a 3rd option is to only tick account and website stuff and backup and restore mail stuff seperately via rsync for example.

I hate rsync :-(

Other option, backup and restore admin first and the biggest account. After restore, remove that account but keep the backup on the remote server. This way you have some free space again and you can work further.

I haven't set up the new server yet.

I have 17Gb spare and the home/admin directory is 8.1Gb the home/admin/imap directory is 763Mb

Thanks again

Nick

 

[Richard G]

OK, do you know where I change that?

Yes on the admin/backup transfer page where you can put if you want ftp or local backup you can also put the destination.
Again a usefull option which can not be find easily in Evo. One of the reasons I really dislike the Evo skin. I couldn't find it that quickly otherwise I would have provide you with a screenshot.

Just change to Enhanced skin, use admin/backup transfer there and change the path.
You can change back to Evo afterwards.

I've just backed up one domain and again no imap (or public_html), same extract error.

1.) Was it a correct admin backup/transfer backup filename like I have shown before?
2.) Did you test with MC after creating the backup if it was fine?

I hate rsync :-(

It's fairly easy, I can you provide with a line I always use. I just note these things in a notepad file and save them for when I need them.
But the backups should be fine first anyway.

I have 17Gb spare and the home/admin directory is 8.1Gb the home/admin/imap directory is 763Mb

Hmmz.. 17 GB spare with 8.1 GB content is not that much, might be even too little.
Can't you remove some files or transfer them with FTP to another location like your pc or something like that?

Or otherwise, download the backup to your pc and extract there. Easy enough with winrar or 7zip. Then check if there also is an error.
If not, then the extraction takes too many space on your server and backup is fine.