How do I back up a Drupal site?

Why Backups Are Critical for Drupal

At HostingDuty, we treat backups as a non-negotiable part of our infrastructure security. A Drupal site is a complex ecosystem consisting of code (the core, contributed modules, and themes) and data (the database and uploaded files). If you lose either component, your site will be broken. A complete backup strategy ensures you can recover from failed updates, security breaches, or accidental deletions.

According to Drupal.org, you should create a new backup before every update of core or a contributed project. This practice minimizes downtime and data loss risks. For detailed guidance on what to include, see our guide on Drupal backup best practices.

What to Include in a Drupal Backup

A valid Drupal backup is not just a database dump. It requires a holistic approach covering two distinct areas:

1. Site Code and Configuration: This includes the sites/default/files directory, custom modules, themes, and the settings.php file. If you rely on contributed modules, ensure they are version-controlled or archived. 2. Database: This contains all user-generated content, configuration settings, and site metadata. A database dump is essential for restoring the state of your site.

For a deeper dive into file structures, check our Drupal file system glossary.

Tools for Backing Up Drupal

You have several options depending on your technical comfort level and hosting environment:

Drush (Command Line)

Drush is the standard command-line tool for Drupal. It allows you to create backups quickly via the command line. The drush sql-dump command exports the database, while rsync or tar can archive the file system.

``bash # Create a database backup Drush sql-dump --result-file=backup.sql

# Archive the files directory Tar -czf files-backup.tar.gz sites/default/files `

Acquia CLI

If you are on a cloud platform, the Acquia CLI provides a streamlined interface for managing backups and deployments. It automates many of the manual steps required by Drush.

HostingDuty Managed Backups

For users who prefer a hands-off approach, HostingDuty offers automated daily backups. These are stored in geographically redundant storage to ensure availability. You can manage these backups via our control panel.

How to Restore a Backup

Creating a backup is only half the battle. You must verify that you can restore it. A common mistake is assuming a backup file is valid without testing it. At HostingDuty, we recommend performing a test restore on a staging environment before deploying to production.

To restore, you typically need to: 1. Upload the database dump to your server. 2. Import the SQL file using a tool like mysql or phpMyAdmin. 3. Restore the file system archive to the correct directory. 4. Update the settings.php` file to point to the restored database.

For step-by-step instructions, refer to our restore tutorial.

Caveats and Best Practices

• Frequency: Schedule backups based on how often your content changes. For high-traffic sites, hourly backups may be necessary.
• Offsite Storage: Never store backups on the same server as your live site. Use external storage like S3 or a separate volume.
• Encryption: Ensure your backup files are encrypted to protect sensitive data.

For more on security, read our article on Drupal security hardening.

External Resources

For authoritative information on Drupal backup procedures, refer to the official Drupal.org documentation and the Drupalize.Me backup guide.

By following these steps, you ensure your Drupal site remains resilient against failures. At HostingDuty, we prioritize data integrity and uptime for all our clients.