Resolved Exclude files in Plesk account backups, but globally

[Gabriels]

Server operating system version

Debian 12.7

Plesk version and microupdate number

Version 18.0.63 Update #4, last updated on Sept 3, 2024 06:27 AM

Hi folks.

I am setting up backups for my clients (mostly Wordpress sites -yikes) and I would like to create some "exclude" rule globally so any account backup I schedule can ignore wordpress backups (I don't want to backup backups!).

In the per-account backup settings exclude, I used things like:
/wordpress-backups/*
backup*.zip
backup*.gz


ChatGPT suggested me (wrongly, I assume) to setup a /etc/psa/backup.exclude file, which did not work.
So my question is: is it possible to setup this globally for all accounts, instead of per-account?

Thanks in advance
Gabriel

 

[Maarten]

You can indeed exclude files and directories in the global backup settings. When scheduling a backup, make sure to check the option "Exclude specific files from the backup".

Backup Manager -> Schedule -> Check the box for "Exclude specific files from the backup".

Then, you can add rules like these to exclude WordPress backup directories:

**/wp-content/cache/wpfc-minified/*
**/wp-content/updraft/backup*
/wordpress-backups/*

This ensures that backups don't include unnecessary WordPress backup files, saving space and speeding up the process. It's always a good idea to verify the settings with a manual backup!

 

[Gabriels]

Hi Maarten
Aren't those settings only for a server backup?
My intention is not have to repeatedly provide these exclusion rules on each and every account backup.

 

[Maarten]

The settings in the global backup options will do what you need. By setting the exclusions there, it ensures that those files and directories are excluded from all server-wide backups, including individual subscriptions.

You don’t have to set them for each subscription manually — the exclusions will apply to all account backups. So just add your rules to the global settings and you're good to go!

 

[Gabriels]

Perfect. that's what I needed. Thanks!

 

[Gabriels]

Whops. New problem. since I am not doing a full server backup "including" user files (because I am doing a per-account backup), in the Backup server settings the "exclude" option is now disabled. Thus, I'm afraid that any exclude option I define at server level is not inherited by the per-account backup process. Am I right? I will do some tests and then let you know.