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Create and restore application backups

NOTE: We are in the process of modifying the file structure and configuration for many Bitnami stacks. On account of these changes, the file paths stated in this guide may change depending on whether your Bitnami stack uses native Linux system packages (Approach A), or if it is a self-contained installation (Approach B). To identify your Bitnami installation type and what approach to follow, run the command below:

 $ test ! -f "/opt/bitnami/common/bin/openssl" && echo "Approach A: Using system packages." || echo "Approach B: Self-contained installation."

The output of the command indicates which approach (A or B) is used by the installation, and will allow you to identify the paths, configuration and commands to use in this guide. Refer to the FAQ for more information on these changes.

Approach A: Bitnami installations using system packages

Backup

The Bitnami Ghost Stack application data files are installed in a different directory from the application’s runtime/binary files. The simplest way for performing a full backup is to copy or compress both directories. To do so in a safe manner, you will first need to stop all servers, so this method may not be appropriate if you have people accessing the application continuously.

NOTE: If you want to create only a database backup, refer to these instructions for MySQL/MariaDB.

Follow these steps:

  • Change to the directory in which you wish to save your backup:

      $ cd /your/directory

  • Stop all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh stop

  • Create a compressed file with the directory containing application data files:

      $ sudo tar -pczvf application-backup.tar.gz /bitnami

  • Additionally, to make a full backup, create a compressed file with the directory containing application binaries and runtime files:

      $ sudo tar -pczvf application-bin.tar.gz /opt/bitnami

  • Restart all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh start

You should now download or transfer the application-backup.tar.gz and application-bin.tar.gz files to a safe location.

Restore

Follow these steps:

  • Change to the directory containing your backup:

      $ cd /your/directory

  • Stop all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh stop

  • Move the current stack to a different location:

      $ sudo mv /opt/bitnami /tmp/bitnami-backup

  • Uncompress the backup file with the application data files to the original directory

      $ sudo tar -pxzvf application-backup.tar.gz -C /

  • Additionally, to restore a full backup, uncompress the backup file with the application binaries and runtime files to the original directory

      $ sudo tar -pxzvf application-bin.tar.gz -C /

  • Start all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh start

IMPORTANT: When restoring, remember to maintain the original permissions for the files and folders. For example, if you originally installed the stack as the root user on Linux, make sure that the restored files are owned by root as well.

Approach B: Self-contained Bitnami installations

Backup

The Bitnami Ghost Stack is self-contained and the simplest option for performing a backup is to copy or compress the Bitnami stack installation directory. To do so in a safe manner, you will need to stop all servers, so this method may not be appropriate if you have people accessing the application continuously.

NOTE: If you want to create only a database backup, refer to these instructions for MySQL/MariaDB.

Follow these steps:

  • Change to the directory in which you wish to save your backup:

      $ cd /your/directory

  • Stop all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh stop

  • Create a compressed file with the stack contents:

      $ sudo tar -pczvf application-backup.tar.gz /opt/bitnami

  • Restart all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh start

You should now download or transfer the application-backup.tar.gz file to a safe location.

Restore

Follow these steps:

  • Change to the directory containing your backup:

      $ cd /your/directory

  • Stop all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh stop

  • Move the current stack to a different location:

      $ sudo mv /opt/bitnami /tmp/bitnami-backup

  • Uncompress the backup file to the original directory

      $ sudo tar -pxzvf application-backup.tar.gz -C /

  • Start all servers:

      $ sudo /opt/bitnami/ctlscript.sh start

IMPORTANT: When restoring, remember to maintain the original permissions for the files and folders. For example, if you originally installed the stack as the root user on Linux, make sure that the restored files are owned by root as well.

Last modification March 24, 2021