January 13, 2026Guides

How to Configure Automatic Backups on Linux Server

Step-by-step guide on setting up automated backup scripts using cron jobs for files and databases.

Regular backups are essential for protecting your data. This guide shows you how to set up automatic backups for your files and databases using shell scripts and cron jobs on your Hiddence server.

Creating Backup Script

Create a backup script for your files:

bash

sudo nano /usr/local/bin/backup.sh
#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="/backups"
SOURCE_DIR="/var/www"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
tar -czf $BACKUP_DIR/backup_$DATE.tar.gz $SOURCE_DIR
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/backup.sh

Setting Up Cron Job

Schedule automatic backups using cron:

bash

sudo crontab -e
# Add this line to run backup daily at 2 AM
0 2 * * * /usr/local/bin/backup.sh >> /var/log/backup.log 2>&1

Database Backup Script

Create script for MySQL database backups:

bash

sudo nano /usr/local/bin/db_backup.sh
#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="/backups/db"
DB_NAME="your_database"
DB_USER="root"
DB_PASS="your_password"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
mysqldump -u $DB_USER -p$DB_PASS $DB_NAME > $BACKUP_DIR/db_backup_$DATE.sql
gzip $BACKUP_DIR/db_backup_$DATE.sql
find $BACKUP_DIR -name "db_backup_*.sql.gz" -mtime +7 -delete
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/db_backup.sh

Remote Backup Storage

Copy backups to remote server using rsync or SCP:

bash

#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR="/backups"
REMOTE_HOST="backup-server.com"
REMOTE_USER="backup"
REMOTE_DIR="/backups"
rsync -avz -e ssh $BACKUP_DIR/ $REMOTE_USER@$REMOTE_HOST:$REMOTE_DIR/

Backup Retention Policy

Configure retention to keep backups for specific period:

bash

# Keep daily backups for 7 days
find /backups -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime +7 -delete

# Keep weekly backups for 4 weeks
find /backups/weekly -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime +28 -delete

# Keep monthly backups for 12 months
find /backups/monthly -name "backup_*.tar.gz" -mtime +365 -delete

Backup Best Practices

Test backup restoration regularly
Store backups in multiple locations
Encrypt sensitive backup data
Monitor backup logs for errors
Document your backup procedures
Set up alerts for backup failures