Introduction

This guide explains how to schedule backups for user accounts in DirectAdmin using the Admin Backup/Transfer feature. It is intended for server administrators who need to regularly back up all or specific user accounts. The guide demonstrates the steps to configure a daily backup, either locally or remotely, ensuring the security and availability of your data. These instructions apply when you want to automate the backup process, providing an example for a daily backup schedule.

Prerequisites

• Access to DirectAdmin with admin-level privileges.
• Understanding of cron syntax for scheduling.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Specify who to back up

1. Navigate to Admin Level > Admin Backup/Transfer in the DirectAdmin interface.
2. Check the Create Backup part.
3. Under Who, choose one of the following:
   • All users: To back up all accounts (including future accounts).
   • Selected users: Select specific users from the list. Add users to the list using the Add dropdown menu and click Select.

Step 2: Configure the backup schedule

1. Under When, choose Cron Schedule.
2. Configure the desired time using cron syntax. For example, to schedule a backup at midnight daily:

   Minute: 0
   Hour: 0
   Day of Month: *
   Month: *
   Day of Week: *

Step 3: Choose the backup storage location

1. Under Where, select one of the following:
   • Local: Specify the directory path for storing backups, e.g., /home/admin/admin_backups.
   • FTP: Enter the details for your FTP connection:
     • IP: FTP server’s IP address.
     • Username and Password: Credentials for the FTP server.
     • Remote Path: Directory path on the FTP server.
     • Port: Default is 21.
     • Secure FTP: Select Yes for encrypted connections.
2. To overwrite older backups, configure the Append to path option. For example, choose Day of Week to keep the last 7 days of backups.

Step 4: Select the data to back up

1. Under What, choose:
   • All data: To back up everything.
   • Selected Data: Specify particular data types such as:
     • Domains Directory
     • Email Accounts
     • Database Settings and Data

Step 5: Review and finalize

1. Verify that all settings are correct.
2. Click Submit to schedule the backup.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can automate the process of creating backups in DirectAdmin, ensuring your data is regularly and securely stored. Whether you choose local storage or remote FTP, this solution simplifies backup management and provides flexibility in scheduling and storing data. Regular backups are crucial for disaster recovery and maintaining the integrity of user accounts.

For additional assistance or if you encounter any issues, please contact our support team at support@ipserverone.com.