Best Practices for Server Data Backup and Recovery
Best Practices for Server Data Backup and Recovery
Welcome to this guide on best practices for server data backup and recovery! Protecting your MediaWiki installation and its associated data is paramount. This article will cover essential strategies, configurations, and tools to ensure you can restore your server quickly and efficiently in the event of data loss. This guide is geared toward system administrators and those responsible for maintaining a MediaWiki server.
Understanding the Risks
Data loss can occur due to various factors, including hardware failure, software bugs, human error, security breaches (like Malware or Ransomware, and natural disasters. A robust backup and recovery plan mitigates these risks and minimizes downtime. Ignoring backup procedures can lead to significant data loss, impacting your Wiki Project and potentially requiring significant time and resources to rebuild.
Backup Strategies
There are several backup strategies to consider. The best approach depends on your server’s size, traffic, and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO).
- Full Backups: Copies all data. Slowest, but simplest to restore.
- Differential Backups: Copies all data that has changed since the last *full* backup. Faster than full backups, but restore is slower as it requires the last full backup *and* the most recent differential backup.
- Incremental Backups: Copies all data that has changed since the last *any* backup (full, differential, or incremental). Fastest backup, but slowest restore, as it requires the last full backup and all subsequent incremental backups.
Backup Components
Regardless of the strategy, you need to backup the following:
- MediaWiki Installation Files: The core MediaWiki files themselves.
- Database: Typically MySQL or PostgreSQL, containing all wiki content.
- Uploads Directory: Contains all uploaded files (images, documents, etc.). This is usually located at `/var/www/html/w/uploads/` or similar, depending on your setup.
- Configuration Files: `LocalSettings.php` is *critical* as it contains database connection details and other important settings.
- Web Server Configuration: Configuration files for Apache or Nginx, as these are needed to restore functionality.
Backup Tools and Technologies
Several tools can be used for server backups. Here’s a comparison of popular options:
| Tool | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| `mysqldump` (MySQL) / `pg_dump` (PostgreSQL) | Command-line utilities for creating logical backups of databases. | Widely available, simple to use, creates portable backups. | Can be slow for large databases, requires database access. |
| `rsync` | Utility for efficiently transferring and synchronizing files. | Fast for incremental backups, good for filesystems. | Requires careful configuration to avoid issues, not a database-aware tool. |
| `tar` | Archiving utility. | Simple, widely available. | Can be slow, not ideal for incremental backups. |
| Bacula / Amanda | Networked backup solutions. | Scalable, feature-rich, centralized management. | Complex to set up and manage. |
| Duplicati | Open-source backup client. | Supports multiple storage providers, encryption, scheduling. | Can be resource-intensive. |
Example Backup Script (Simplified)
This is a *very* simplified example using `mysqldump` and `tar` for a Linux server. **Do not use this in production without testing and modification.**
```bash
- !/bin/bash
- Database Credentials
DB_USER="your_db_user" DB_PASSWORD="your_db_password" DB_NAME="your_db_name"
- Backup Directory
BACKUP_DIR="/path/to/backups"
- Create backup directory if it doesn't exist
mkdir -p $BACKUP_DIR
- Create a timestamp for the backup
TIMESTAMP=$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S)
- Backup the database
mysqldump -u $DB_USER -p$DB_PASSWORD $DB_NAME > $BACKUP_DIR/db_backup_$TIMESTAMP.sql
- Backup the MediaWiki files and uploads
tar -czvf $BACKUP_DIR/mediawiki_backup_$TIMESTAMP.tar.gz /var/www/html/w/ /var/www/html/w/uploads/ /var/www/html/LocalSettings.php
- Optionally, rotate old backups (keep only the last 7 days)
find $BACKUP_DIR -type f -mtime +7 -delete ```
Recovery Procedures
Having backups is only half the battle; you must have a tested recovery procedure.
1. Restore the Database: Use `mysql` or `psql` to import the database backup. 2. Restore Files: Extract the `tar.gz` archive to the correct location. Ensure permissions are correct. 3. Verify Configuration: Double-check `LocalSettings.php` for correct database credentials and other settings. 4. Test: Thoroughly test the restored wiki to ensure functionality.
Backup Schedule & Retention
The frequency of your backups depends on your RPO. Here’s a general guideline:
| Frequency | RPO | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 24 hours | Most wikis, moderate activity |
| Weekly | 7 days | Low-activity wikis, archival purposes |
| Hourly | 1 hour | High-traffic wikis, critical data |
Retention policy determines how long backups are stored. Consider legal requirements and data importance when defining your retention policy. A typical retention policy might include keeping daily backups for a week, weekly backups for a month, and monthly backups for a year.
Disaster Recovery Planning
Beyond regular backups, a comprehensive disaster recovery plan is crucial. This includes:
- Offsite Backups: Store backups in a geographically separate location to protect against site-wide disasters. Consider using cloud storage services like Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage or Azure Blob Storage.
- Redundancy: Implement redundant hardware and software to minimize downtime.
- Documentation: Maintain detailed documentation of your backup and recovery procedures.
- Testing: Regularly test your disaster recovery plan to ensure it works as expected. A full restore test should be performed at least annually.
Security Considerations
- Encryption: Encrypt backups to protect sensitive data.
- Access Control: Restrict access to backups to authorized personnel only.
- Secure Storage: Store backups in a secure location, both physically and digitally.
Further Resources
- MediaWiki Official Documentation
- Database Backup Best Practices
- Server Security
- Disaster Recovery Planning
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️