How to Set Up Automated Backups

Introduction

Regular backups are essential for data protection. This guide shows you how to automate backups using rsync and cron.

Step 1: Install Rsync

Ensure rsync is installed on your system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install rsync

Step 2: Create Backup Script

Create a bash script to handle the backup process.

#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="/backup"
SOURCE_DIR="/var/www"
DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)
rsync -avz $SOURCE_DIR $BACKUP_DIR/backup-$DATE
find $BACKUP_DIR -type d -mtime +7 -exec rm -rf {} \;

Step 3: Make Script Executable

Set proper permissions for the backup script.

chmod +x /usr/local/bin/backup.sh

Step 4: Schedule with Cron

Add a cron job to run the backup script daily at 2 AM.

sudo crontab -e
# Add: 0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh

Step 5: Test the Backup

Run the backup script manually to ensure it works correctly.

sudo /usr/local/bin/backup.sh

Conclusion

Your server now has automated daily backups. Consider storing backups off-site for additional protection.