DirectAdmin Backup Systems – Complete Guide to Backup, Restore, and Scheduling

1. Available Backup Systems in DirectAdmin

DirectAdmin provides two main backup systems:

1.1 DirectAdmin Backup System (Recommended)

This system creates a tar.gz file for each user account, containing:

• Databases
• Email accounts and email data
• Domains and website files
• Subdomains
• FTP accounts

Advantages:

• Simple one‑click restore
• Ideal for migrating accounts between servers
• Available at all levels: Admin, Reseller, User

Interfaces that generate the same backup file:

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

1.2 System Backup (sysbk)

Located at:

Admin Level → System Backup

This tool backs up:

• System configuration files (e.g., /etc/exim.conf, directadmin.conf)
• Custom paths defined by the admin

Notes:

• Requires ncftp for remote FTP backups
• No one‑click restore option

2. Admin Backup/Transfer – GUI Method

Step 1: Select Users

You may choose:

• All Users (includes future users automatically)
• Selected Users

Step 2: Configure Cron Schedule

Example for daily backups at midnight:

Minute: 0
Hour: 0
Day of Month: *
Month: *
Day of Week: *

Use crontab.guru for syntax help.

Step 3: Choose Backup Destination

• Local storage
• Remote FTP (with optional Secure FTP)

You may configure overwrite rules using Append options (e.g., keep last 7 backups).

Step 4: Select Backup Data

Options:

• All Data
• Selected Data (databases, email, FTP, domains, etc.)

After reviewing settings, click Schedule.

3. User‑Level Backup/Restore

User backups are stored in:

/home/USERNAME/backups/

Available options:

• Website Data (domains directory, subdomains list)
• Email (accounts, data, filters, forwarders, autoresponders, vacation messages)
• FTP Accounts & Settings
• Database Settings & Data
• Trash (deleted items)

Note: User-level backups cannot be scheduled.

4. Reseller‑Level Backup/Restore

Stored in:

/home/RESELLER_NAME/user_backups/

Options include:

• Send notification when backup completes
• Restore using local or backup nameservers
• Restore using local or backup SPF values

5. Admin‑Level Backup/Restore Settings

Stored in:

/home/admin/admin_backups/

Options include:

• Send notification when backup finishes
• Choose nameserver source (local or backup)
• Choose SPF source (local or backup)
• Check domain conflicts in /etc/virtual/domainowners

Additional directadmin.conf variables:

• backup_ftp_pre_test
• backup_ftp_md5
• allow_backup_encryption
• tally_after_restore
• backup_hard_link_check

6. Backup Creation & Scheduling Options

WHO

• All Users
• All Users Except Selected
• Selected Users
• Skip Suspended

WHEN

• Now
• Cron Schedule

WHERE

• Local path (default: /home/admin/admin_backups)
• FTP (with IP, username, password, remote path, port, secure FTP)

WHAT

• All Data
• Selected Data (domains, FTP, databases, email, mailing lists, trash)

7. Backup Progress Monitor

DirectAdmin includes a real‑time backup progress monitor. After starting a backup, reload the CMD_ADMIN_BACKUP page to see the IN PROGRESS tab.

Controlled by:

track_task_queue_processes=1

Set to 2 for detailed logging.