The run looks good to me. Please verify, that the archive contents still contain the cache-folder.

I'm having problems with the exclude functionality also... I thought it was working previously, but I honestly haven't checked on it in a while...

[11.07.2025 05:02:28][debug][plex] Generated tar command: --exclude 'Cache,Metadata,Media,MediaCover,models/blobs' -c -P -f '/mnt/user/backup/unraid/ab_20250711_050001/plex.tar' '/mnt/user/appdata/plex'

When Appdata Backup runs, plex.tar is 27GB

When I run it manually adding -v, I confirm that the dirs are added. I also confirm that they exist in the output tar with -tvf...

I tried manually running like this:

tar --exclude 'Media' --exclude 'Cache' --exclude 'Caches' --exclude 'Metadata' -c -v -P -f '/mnt/user/backup/unraid/test_plex.tar' '/mnt/user/appdata/plex'

and my output tar file is only 2.7 GB.

Sorry if this has been asked before, I did look but didn't see it....

Is it possible to set 'backup' and 'update' seperately for each container?

I have one container that I don't want to update automatically (because I know it breaks things) but I do want to update the rest, and I also want all the containers (including the 'don't update' one) to be backed up.

Currently I think I can only exclude a container from both update & backup together? Or I can turn updates off entirely and backup all containers.

No. But if a container needs to stay on a specific version then you should tag it to the version you want in the template's Repository line.

Edited July 13, 2025Jul 13 by Kilrah

Just want to say thanks for continuing to maintain this awesome plugin! Just started using external volumes as well as backup groups and it just works! Thanks.

EDIT: FYI Your Paypal donate link is broken in the settings page of the plugin (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=KE7Z3KLEEY484)

Edited July 25, 2025Jul 25 by cybrnook

33 minutes ago, cybrnook said:

FYI Your Paypal donate link is broken in the settings page of the plugin

Thats totally expected because of: https://forums.unraid.net/topic/137710-plugin-appdatabackup/page/77/#findComment-1564584 I dont want to accept any new donations.

1 hour ago, KluthR said:

Thats totally expected because of: https://forums.unraid.net/topic/137710-plugin-appdatabackup/page/77/#findComment-1564584 I dont want to accept any new donations.

Had no idea. Thanks for helping explain to me.

So, during the last backup, my gitlab got deleted. How is this even possible?
backup.log

Its not possible. Not with the plugin.

Please share the debug log by submitting it.

Edited July 29, 2025Jul 29 by KluthR

My automated monthly backups have been failing since March. I only just noticed when I tried to do a manual backup before updating my Unraid OS and the backup failed. Is anyone else having issues with backups? I have attached a log.

2025-08-05-appdata backup error log.txt

Update: the culprit seems to be the Plex Cache folder. After looking at the Hints section of the original post at the beginning of this thread I was able to exclude the Cache folder and resolve the issue. Thank you!

Edited August 5, 2025Aug 5 by alichataq
Update. Issue resolved.

Hi, can I save all backup in a another server? using scp / ssh ?
I already config my keys to connect to another server...

Or I will have to create a "Post-backup script" ??? If this is the solution, the folder "Backup destination" will be apointed to a share folder, just for run the backup and later cleaned?

I too am getting the "container_name_here does not have any volume to back up!" error. All 31 of my containers fail backing up. I've tried changing the path going through fuse ("/mnt/user/appdata") as well as bypassing fuse ("/mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata" in my case) to no avail.

Having paged through and seeing the same issues but no resolutions that I could find, here I am.

I submitted a debug log; 0d5693f6-af67-4635-b635-8fa8f7acc22e

3 hours ago, Brandon_K said:

Having paged through and seeing the same issues but no resolutions that I could find, here I am.

What are your paths in "Appdata Sources" at the top? Should include all direct and /mn/user paths of your appdata folders.

21 hours ago, Kilrah said:

What are your paths in "Appdata Sources" at the top? Should include all direct and /mn/user paths of your appdata folders.

I have tried;

"/mnt/user/appdata" by itself.

"/mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata" by itself.

"/mnt/user/appdata" and "/mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata" together.

"/mnt/user/appdata" and all directories located within.

"/mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata" and all directories located within.

And lastly, /mnt/user/appdata, /mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata and all directories for both paths.

I'm pretty sure I've tried every combination of paths that are possible. In every instance it fails. Unfortunately I don't know when this started. I keep 5 copies of backups, backups are set to run once a week. My earliest retained backup is mid July and it isn't complete. For whatever reason, it appears to have correctly backed up the first 5 containers*, but everything else is just .xml files that are each a few KB per. *I'm basing the "correct" assumption on file size. The first 5 containers total out to ~3.6GB, which seems correct. There are 31 containers in all that should be getting backed up which have a total uncompressed size of 323GB.

I'm certainly open to other thoughts on further troubleshooting. FWIW, this machine is running 6.12.13 and the plugin is up to date. Appdata is stored on a dedicated pair of NVME running as a mirror.

For kicks and grins, I uninstalled the non-beta plugin and installed the beta plugin. It completely skips backing up ANY container.

[11.08.2025 02:33:17][ℹ️][Main] 👋 WELCOME TO APPDATA.BACKUP!! :D
[11.08.2025 02:33:17][ℹ️][Main] Backing up from: /mnt/user/appdata, /mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata
[11.08.2025 02:33:17][ℹ️][Main] Backing up to: /mnt/user/backups/CA_appdata_backups/ab_20250811_023317
[11.08.2025 02:33:17][ℹ️][Main] Selected containers: *container list redacted*
[11.08.2025 02:33:17][ℹ️][Main] Saving container XML files...
[11.08.2025 02:33:17][ℹ️][Main] Backing up the flash drive.
[11.08.2025 02:33:45][ℹ️][Main] Flash backup created!
[11.08.2025 02:33:45][ℹ️][Main] Copying the flash backup to '/mnt/remotes/HTPC-7080/unraid backups/CA USB backups/' as well...

/ I canceled the backup at this point.
[11.08.2025 02:34:04][⚠️][Main] Backup cancelled! Executing final things. You will be left behind with the current state!
[11.08.2025 02:34:04][ℹ️][Main] DONE! Thanks for using this plugin and have a safe day ;)
[11.08.2025 02:34:04][ℹ️][Main] ❤️

Edited August 11, 2025Aug 11 by Brandon_K
Added additional info.

Please share a debug log with at least "/mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata" as set source. Or share a debug log from the latest run, which logs you attached in your latest post.

11 hours ago, KluthR said:

Please share a debug log with at least "/mnt/appdata_nvme/appdata" as set source. Or share a debug log from the latest run, which logs you attached in your latest post.

Done. 3ef95035-571e-4fe0-a71c-bfca6e995479

Yes, this setup with the source path set to the nvme is working. You should also add "mnt/ser/appdata" to catch tautully and those. Note the hint how "internal" and "externwl" volumes are handled.

Hello, I’ve been using Appdata.Backup for a while, and it’s really an excellent plugin. I do have a question though: when the plugin starts, does it read the currently running Docker containers from memory or some environment variable?

Here’s my situation: under /mnt/cache/appdata I still have files left over from previously removed Docker containers. To include those in the backup, I added the appdata folder to the Include extra files/folders option, and I also wrote a script with the help of AI to stop all Docker containers before the backup, so that no appdata files are in use during the process. I placed this script under Pre-run script, and it successfully shuts down all containers.

However, the Backup plugin always seems to detect the container state before the script executes, and then it restarts all containers before backing up the extra files. This makes it impossible for me to properly back up the appdata folder.

Since I’m not a programmer, I can’t really work out a workaround myself. So I’d like to suggest this idea: if the plugin could check the currently running containers after the Pre-run script is executed, then it would allow backing up files left behind by removed containers as well.

1 minute ago, MEWTWO said:

I still have files left over from previously removed Docker containers. To include those in the backup, I added the appdata folder to the Include extra files/folders option,

Just add the individual appdata subfolders you want there instead of the whole appdata folder since that makes no sense as everything would then be backed up twice/using the plugin at all would become pointless.

Can also just archive those once and then remove them from appdata, makes no sense to do scheduled backups of things that are no longer in use and don't change anymore.

Edited August 16, 2025Aug 16 by Kilrah

Hello all,

I got an error with my backup this morning and would like to read the debug log

However, I could not for the life of me figure out how to access the debug logs

I tried the "SHARE DEBUG LOG" button but all it does is send the log to the developer, and tells me that I can find the log at "/tmp/appdata.backup", which I have no idea where it is. I tried to look for /tmp/appdata.backup with krusader to no avail too

Can someone please tell me how I can access my own debug log?

Thanks in advance

Hello,

I'm getting the error below, could use some help on what is causing the error:

[18.08.2025 03:34:56][ℹ️][Main] VM meta backup enabled! Backing up...
[18.08.2025 03:34:56][ℹ️][Main] Done!
[18.08.2025 03:34:56][⚠️][Main] An error occurred during backup! RETENTION WILL NOT BE CHECKED! Please review the log. If you need further assistance, ask in the support forum.
[18.08.2025 03:34:56][ℹ️][Main] DONE! Thanks for using this plugin and have a safe day ;)
[18.08.2025 03:34:56][ℹ️][Main] ❤️

Debug Log: 6a826127-0291-4f81-a669-6938a4d8ab58

Thank you

Is it possible to only use the flash backup? I don't want to back up my applications, but the flash disk and this would be really helpful.

On 8/18/2025 at 8:30 PM, Haskida said:

Hello all,

I got an error with my backup this morning and would like to read the debug log

However, I could not for the life of me figure out how to access the debug logs

I tried the "SHARE DEBUG LOG" button but all it does is send the log to the developer, and tells me that I can find the log at "/tmp/appdata.backup", which I have no idea where it is. I tried to look for /tmp/appdata.backup with krusader to no avail too

Can someone please tell me how I can access my own debug log?

Thanks in advance

I have a similar issue...

Or the container starts, but badly, I have to switch it off and then start it manually (a reboot doesn't work).

Edited August 24, 2025Aug 24 by Guraz
add things

I’ve read that the plugin is no longer being actively developed, but I still have a question.

I can no longer save any settings: when I add post scripts or set certain containers to “Skip” and click Save, the page reloads but the changes aren’t applied. Even if no new features are coming until Unraid releases something built-in, this plugin is very important to me.

Maybe someone here can help—I’ve already uninstalled and reinstalled the plugin.

Thank you!

How many containers? There's a known issue (caused at Unraid level) when the submission is too long with some workarounds posted earlier.