📌 Purpose & Quick Summary

The Data Vault & Backup Master is your comprehensive disaster recovery suite in BoostonCP. It enables you to generate full account backups, isolate home directory files, or export individual MySQL databases with 1 click. Crucially, it empowers you to integrate external off-site storage destinations—including Remote FTP Storage and Google Drive—ensuring your data remains secure even in the event of catastrophic local server failure.

BoostonCP User Backups Overview

Figure 7: Data Vault dashboard showing storage destinations, backup archives ledger, and restore tools.

🖥️ Interface Tour & Elements

  1. Quick Backup Generator Card: Prominent card with 1-click generation buttons for Full Account Backup, Home Directory Files Only, and MySQL Databases Only.
  2. Storage Destination Cards:
    • Local Storage Vault: On-node disk storage where generated archives reside in your private /home/user/backups directory.
    • Remote FTP Storage: Allows connecting an external backup server via FTP/FTPS with automated transfer.
    • Google Drive Storage: Direct OAuth integration to stream backups directly into your personal Google Drive cloud.
  3. Backup Archives Ledger: Table listing all available archives, creation timestamps, file sizes, storage location badges, Download buttons, Restore triggers, and Delete actions.
  4. Restore Archive Tool: Modal allowing you to upload an existing backup archive and restore account state with 1 click.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Generating a Manual Backup

  1. In the sidebar, click Backups (icon: fa-save).
  2. In the Create Backup section, choose your backup scope:
    • Full Account: Packages all website files, databases, mailboxes, and account DNS settings.
    • Files Only: Compresses your public_html and home directory data.
    • Databases Only: Generates clean .sql.gz dumps of all MySQL/MariaDB databases.
  3. Click Generate Backup. The system creates the archive in the background. Once complete, it appears in the Backup Archives Ledger.

Step 2: Connecting Remote FTP Storage

  1. On the FTP Storage card, click Configure FTP.
  2. Enter your external FTP server details:
    • Server Host / IP: e.g. ftp.backupserver.com.
    • Port: Default 21.
    • Username & Password: External FTP credentials.
    • Remote Directory: Subfolder path (e.g. /booston_backups).
  3. Click Test & Save Connection. Future backups can now be automatically pushed off-site.

Step 3: Restoring an Archive

  1. In the Backup Archives Ledger, locate the archive you wish to restore.
  2. Click the Restore button next to the archive.
  3. Select what to restore (All components, Files only, or Databases only).
  4. Click Confirm Restore. The system unpacks the data and restores your website state.

⚙️ Complete Field & Parameter Reference Table

Setting / Field Input Type Description & Technical Specifics
Backup Scope Selection Full: Complete snapshot including configs.
Home Dir: File tree only.
MySQL: Database dumps only.
FTP Host Domain / IP External backup storage server hostname or IPv4 address.
FTP Port Integer Port 21 for standard FTP or explicit FTPS (Port 990 for implicit).
Remote Directory Path string Target directory on the external server where .tar.gz files will be deposited.
Google Drive Auth OAuth Button Authenticates via Google OAuth 2.0 to grant access to designated backup folder.
Restore Scope Checkboxes Allows selective restoration of individual databases or directories without overwriting everything.

❓ Troubleshooting & Common Errors

1. Backup Generation Fails with "Disk Quota Exceeded"

  • Cause: Creating a backup requires temporary disk space to compress files. If your account is at 95% storage capacity, the archive process will abort.
  • Solution: Purge old logs, delete outdated local backups, or connect Remote FTP / Google Drive so archives stream directly off-site.

2. Google Drive Connection Disconnects

  • Cause: Google OAuth refresh tokens expire if unrefreshed for extended periods or if password was changed.
  • Solution: Click Disconnect Account, then click Connect Google Drive to re-authenticate and refresh the token.