Question How to Download latest Backup via FTP

[L. Hagen]

Server operating system version

Ubuntu 22.04

Plesk version and microupdate number

Obsidian v18

Hi,

in "Tools & Settings -> Backup Manager" I can download a full backup and can also setup "Remote Storage Settings". But I'm wondering if it's possible to access Plesk via SFTP from the Internet to download a full backup too?

I would like to create a small backup job on my local NAS that downloads the latest full backup from Plesk. The "Remote Storage Settings" are no option, because the NAS is not running 24/7.

Is there any way to perform this?

 

[Mikhail_S]

Hello @L. Hagen

It is possible to configure SFTP access to a Plesk server under a subscription. Some details can be found here:
How to grant a Subscription or Domain user SSH/SFTP access to its home directory in Plesk?
Also, it is mentioned under this forum thread:
How to setup a SFTP account in Plesk

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As an addition, such type of access can be configured even independently from Plesk itself:
How to Setup SFTP Server on Ubuntu 20.04
How to install an Ubuntu SFTP server

 

[L. Hagen]

Hello @L. Hagen

It is possible to configure SFTP access to a Plesk server under a subscription. Some details can be found here:
How to grant a Subscription or Domain user SSH/SFTP access to its home directory in Plesk?
Also, it is mentioned under this forum thread:
How to setup a SFTP account in Plesk

---

As an addition, such type of access can be configured even independently from Plesk itself:
How to Setup SFTP Server on Ubuntu 20.04
How to install an Ubuntu SFTP server

Hi Mikhail_S,

I know how I can get access. But my question is how to download a single file FULL backup via SFTP.

 

[Mikhail_S]

But my question is how to download a single file FULL backup via SFTP.

All the backups are stored inside the directory /var/lib/psa/dumps.
Thus, you need either to take the necessary backup from there before downloading or to make this directory available directly.

 

[L. Hagen]

All the backups are stored inside the directory /var/lib/psa/dumps.
Thus, you need either to take the necessary backup from there before downloading or to make this directory available directly.

I checked this folder and there are a lot of files in it but obviously not a full system backup file. The largest file in this folder is ca. 12 MB. But when I click on download file from the backup panel (GUI) I get a file which is about 12 GB. Do you have any idea?

 

[Mikhail_S]

I checked this folder and there are a lot of files in it but obviously not a full system backup file. The largest file in this folder is ca. 12 MB. But when I click on download file from the backup panel (GUI) I get a file which is about 12 GB. Do you have any idea?

I would suggest using the CLI utility. That would help to optimize and automate the process
How to download a large backup file from Plesk

 

[L. Hagen]

I would suggest using the CLI utility. That would help to optimize and automate the process
How to download a large backup file from Plesk

I also has this in mind to create a cronjob which stores the full backups on the server and then to download the folder where the files are stored. It's not really elegant but should work... I had the hope that there is a better way.

 

[Mikhail_S]

I also has this in mind to create a cronjob which stores the full backups on the server and then to download the folder where the files are stored. It's not really elegant but should work... I had the hope that there is a better way.

For this specific configuration, this seems to be the easiest way.
Otherwise, I would say you could consider configuring scheduled backup to remote storage. You said NAS is not available 24/7. However, you might configure it to be available just for the time when the backup is started. This setup would work as well but it might be a bit unstable due to the necessity to have NAS turned on at the specific time.