Server restoration

[webquarry]

Greetings!

I had the task recently of rebuilding a directadmin server after the hard disk died and took everything with it.

We discovered that (horrors!) directadmin's configuration of sysbk did NOT by default include everything that was needed to get the server back.

Luckily the hard drive was still serviceable enough to get the few files that were missed off of it.

I'd like to publish a list of files that we now backup through sysbk to help you guys avoid what we went through. If you notice anything that is missing from this list, please let me know.

custom.files:
/etc/exim.conf
/etc/exim.cert
/etc/exim.key
/etc/exim.pl
/etc/group
/etc/gshadow
/etc/hosts
/etc/passwd
/etc/proftpd.conf
/etc/proftpd.passwd
/etc/proftpd.vhosts.conf
/etc/resolv.conf
/etc/shadow
/etc/system_filter.exim
/usr/local/directadmin/scripts/setup.txt


custom.dirs:
/etc/mail
/etc/ssh
/etc/virtual
/home/*
/usr/local/directadmin/conf
/usr/local/directadmin/data
/usr/local/directadmin/plugins
/usr/local/frontpage
/var/log
/var/mail
/var/spool/cron
/var/spool/mail
/var/spool/virtual
/var/www

Have fun!

 

[koudou]

Hello,

Maybe I am wrong, but I suppose that this means that if you want to move your server on a new one you have to :

-> install the new server with DirectAdmin
-> backup all /home
-> backup directadmin with sysbk
-> backup the files of the list given by webquarry
-> restore all the backups on the new server

Am I right ?


Michel Lo

 

[webquarry]

That is basically what we did, yes.

We also modified sysbk so that it properly dumps large mysql databases.

See this thread for details http://www.directadmin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6059

 

[mikeyman]

What files and directories should be backed up on a FreeBSD 5.3 system?

 

[webquarry]

mikeyman-

I don't know since I don't run freebsd but if you start with the list that I have posted, it should give you a good start.

If you are serious about hosting, set up a spare machine and put DA on it. Then do a mock-restore using ONLY the files that you have in your backup sets. If you can get the server fully functional using only those files, then you be rest assured that you will be ready when you finally have a server fail on you.

You have to plan for such things because servers fail whether you plan for it or not.

I always rest easier after a successful run of a disaster recovery drill.