Backup & Restore in DirectAdmin
Summary
This guide explains how to create, download, schedule, and restore backups in DirectAdmin. Backups include website files, databases, e‑mail accounts, DNS settings, and configuration data depending on what you select.
Overview
DirectAdmin provides two backup systems:
1. **User Backups** — You create and manage your own backups.
2. **System Backups** — Created by the hosting provider (if enabled).
User backups allow you to:
- Download a full account backup
- Restore specific items (files, databases, e‑mail accounts)
- Schedule automated backups
- Store backups locally or remotely
Requirements
- DirectAdmin user-level access
- Sufficient disk space for backup creation
- Optional: FTP/SFTP credentials for remote storage
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Access Backup & Restore
- Log in to DirectAdmin
- Go to Advanced Features → Backup/Restore
- Choose:
• “Create Backup”
• “Restore Backup”
• “Manage Backups”
2. Create a Backup
- Click “Create Backup”
- Select what you want to include:
• Website files
• Databases
• E‑mail accounts
• DNS settings
• FTP accounts
• SSL certificates
- Choose the destination:
• Local backup directory
• Remote FTP/SFTP server
- Click “Create Backup”
The backup runs in the background.
3. Download a Backup
- Go to “Manage Backups”
- Locate your backup file (usually .tar.gz)
- Click “Download”
4. Restore a Backup
- Go to “Restore Backup”
- Upload a backup file OR select one from the server
- Choose what to restore:
• Entire account
• Only databases
• Only e‑mail accounts
• Only website files
- Click “Restore”
Restoring overwrites existing data for the selected items.
5. Schedule Automatic Backups (If Enabled)
- Go to “Create Backup”
- Select “Schedule”
- Choose:
• Daily / Weekly / Monthly
• Time of day
• What to include
• Where to store it
- Save the schedule
6. Remote Backup Options
You can store backups on:
- FTP servers
- SFTP servers
- Another hosting account
- External backup storage
You must provide:
- Hostname
- Username
- Password
- Remote path
Troubleshooting
Backup Fails to Create
- Not enough disk space
- Incorrect remote FTP credentials
- File permissions preventing access
Restore Not Working
- Backup file may be corrupted
- Wrong file format (must be DirectAdmin-compatible)
- Missing components in the backup
Website Broken After Restore
- Clear cache (CMS cache, CDN cache)
- Re-upload missing files
- Restore the database again if needed
Database Not Restoring
- Ensure the database name matches
- Check for insufficient MySQL permissions
Remote Backup Upload Fails
- Verify FTP/SFTP login details
- Ensure the remote directory exists
- Check firewall restrictions
Security Notes
- Always download backups before major updates
- Store backups off‑server for disaster recovery
- Never keep sensitive backups in public directories
Related Articles
- [Cron Jobs](ca://s?q=Cron_Jobs)
- [SSH Keys](ca://s?q=SSH_Keys)
- [Password Protected Directories](ca://s?q=Password_Protected_Directories)
- [Catch‑All E‑mails](ca://s?q=Catch_All_Emails)
- [Web App Firewall](ca://s?q=Web_App_Firewall)