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Complete Restore and Recovery Guide in DirectAdmin: Managing Backups, Monitoring Progress, Debugging, and System-Level Restoration

This article provides a comprehensive guide to restoring backups in DirectAdmin. It covers restoring backups through the panel, monitoring restore progress, understanding key restore settings, debugging the restore process, handling restores on Personal licenses, restoring system-level backups (sysbk), and using the reseller_override option to control account ownership during admin-level restores.

DirectAdmin RestoreBackup Recoverydataskq

~3 min read • Updated Mar 1, 2026

1. How to Restore a Backup File in DirectAdmin


If your backup was created using DirectAdmin’s internal backup system, you can restore it from:


Admin Level → Admin Backup/Transfer

This interface only initiates the restore. The actual restore is executed by the dataskq process.


1.1 Monitoring Restore Progress via CLI


/usr/local/directadmin/dataskq d80

This runs the restore with debug level 80.


2. Restore Settings


Global restore settings are available in two locations:


  • Admin Level → Admin Backup/Transfer
  • Reseller Level → Manage User Backups

Both pages include a BACKUP/RESTORE SETTINGS link at the top.


3. Monitoring Restore Progress via GUI


After initiating a restore, return to the Admin Backup/Transfer page. You will see an In Progress tab or a progress table.


The interface displays:


  • Detailed restore information
  • A progress bar
  • Percentage completion for each phase

3.1 Level 1 Phases


Each user restore includes up to three phases:


  • cpmove-to-DA conversion
  • Decryption (if applicable)
  • User restore

3.2 Level 0 Phases


These phases relate to FTP downloads. If FTP is involved, progress percentages are split accordingly.


4. Debugging the Restore Process


If you want to slow down the restore to observe each step, use debug level 2019:


./dataskq d2019

Each step adds a 5 second delay, making it easier to analyze output.


5. Restoring Accounts on a Personal License (1 User Max)


The Personal License allows only one account: admin.


If you want to import another user’s domain, for example:


user.admin.fred.tar.gz

Place it here:


/home/admin/backups/user.admin.fred.tar.gz

Then restore it from the User Level.


Why User Level?


  • It restores only user controlled data
  • It does not modify admin’s user.conf

Alternative (not recommended): rename the file to:


user.admin.admin.tar.gz

This would apply user.conf limits to the admin account, which is undesirable.


6. Restoring System Backups (sysbk)


The sysbk tool does not include an automated restore system. You must restore files manually.


Example: restoring /etc/virtual:


cd /etc
tar xvzfp /backup/07-30-04/custom/etc/virtual.tar.gz

Warning: Be extremely careful when restoring system files such as /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /etc/group. Always test login in another SSH session before logging out.


7. Admin Restore: Using reseller_override


When restoring from:


CMD_ADMIN_BACKUP

You can specify:


reseller_override=fred

Rules:


  • fred must be an Admin or Reseller
  • If fred is a Reseller, they will be used as the creator unless restoring Admin/Reseller accounts
  • If reseller_override=admin is used, admin becomes the creator for all restores
  • If the account already exists, this setting is ignored

This is especially useful for cPanel restores where the correct creator cannot be determined from the filename.


Written & researched by Dr. Shahin Siami

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