Using Plesk Backups and Requesting File Recovery Print

Backup and File Recovery Guide

This guide explains how to use Plesk's backup features and how to request file recovery from server backups.

Understanding Backup Types

Creating Your Own Backups in Plesk

Full Subscription Backup:

1. Log into Plesk
2. Go to Websites & Domains
3. Click Backup Manager
4. Click Back Up
5. Select what to include:
   • ☑ Website content
   • ☑ Databases
   • ☑ Mail configuration
   • ☑ User accounts and settings
6. Choose storage location (server or download)
7. Click OK to start backup

Database-Only Backup:

1. Go to Databases
2. Click on your database name
3. Click Export Dump
4. Choose format (SQL recommended)
5. Download the backup file

Restoring from Your Own Backups

Full Restore:

1. Go to Backup Manager
2. Select the backup to restore
3. Click Restore
4. Choose what to restore
5. Confirm and wait for completion

Restore Specific Files:

1. Go to Backup Manager
2. Click on the backup date
3. Browse to the file/folder you need
4. Select and click Restore Selected

Requesting Recovery from Server Backups

If you need files recovered that you don't have a personal backup for:

What Can Be Recovered:

• Files deleted within the backup retention period
• Database content from backup snapshots
• Email data (if included in backups)

What Cannot Be Recovered:

• Files deleted before the oldest backup
• Data that was never saved/committed
• Temporary files that were excluded from backups

How to Request Recovery:

1. Open a support ticket immediately - the sooner the better
2. Provide these details:
   • Domain name
   • Exact file/folder path (e.g., /httpdocs/images/uploads/)
   • Approximate date/time when files existed
   • Description of what was lost
3. Wait for support to check backup availability
4. Confirm the restore when ready

Example Support Ticket:

Subject: File Recovery Request - [yourdomain.com]

I accidentally deleted files and need recovery assistance.

Domain: yourdomain.com
Path: /httpdocs/wwwroot/uploads/
Files Needed: All files in the uploads folder
When Deleted: Today at approximately 2:00 PM
Last Known Good: Yesterday (files were working)

Please restore from the most recent backup before deletion.

Best Practices for Backup

1. Regular Backups: Create weekly or daily backups for critical sites
2. Before Changes: Always backup before major updates or deployments
3. Download Copies: Keep backup copies on your local machine
4. Test Restores: Periodically verify backups work by testing restoration
5. Database Backups: Export database dumps separately for quick recovery

Automating Backups

Scheduled Backups in Plesk:

1. Go to Backup Manager
2. Click Schedule
3. Set frequency (daily, weekly, monthly)
4. Configure retention (how many backups to keep)
5. Enable and save

Recovery Time Expectations