(SOLVED) Is this a good way to backup docker installations?

[je82]

Hi,

 

I've just recently started exploring the docker universe and it's pretty handy with all the easily accessible applications in there! I find myself consolidating more and more stuff into dockers and i'm already up to 12 of them now. I need a backup solution.

 

I store the docker configuration data in /mnt/user/appdata/*

Can i simply just include the /mnt/user/appdata/* path in my rsync backup script and that's that? Or am i going to run into trouble if i do it like that?

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited December 26, 2019 by je82

[JonathanM]

CA Backup / Restore Appdata plugin provides a nice scheduled and configurable interface, no need to reinvent the wheel.

 

However, doing it your way with rsync will probably provide acceptable results, as long as the containers don't mind backups being taken while running. Many won't get a clean backup without stopping them first, so you would need to script a docker stop <container> rsync job docker start container sequence.

[BRiT]

Use Community Applications to find and install "CA Backup / Restore Appdata".

 

It has capabilities to stop the dockers, do the backup, then restart them. Copying and backing up files in use with your own process may prove troublesome.

 

Edited December 26, 2019 by BRiT

[je82]

2 minutes ago, jonathanm said:

CA Backup / Restore Appdata plugin provides a nice scheduled and configurable interface, no need to reinvent the wheel.

 

However, doing it your way with rsync will probably provide acceptable results, as long as the containers don't mind backups being taken while running. Many won't get a clean backup without stopping them first, so you would need to script a docker stop <container> rsync job docker start container sequence.

Cool, yeah thanks i'd want to include it in my regular backup script rather then using the plugin, just making sure it is an ok way to go, ill figure out the stopping of the containers before running the backup!

[BRiT]

I'd likely do a 2 step process to prevent having to deal with issues:

 

1. use CA Backup to do the docker backups to a location in the array.

2. use own rsync backup script from the location in the array to offsite location(s) or at least different server(s).

[JonathanM]

30 minutes ago, BRiT said:

I'd likely do a 2 step process to prevent having to deal with issues:

I second this. Squid does a good job maintaining the backup app to remain compatible and keep up with any dockerman issues, why not let him to the hard work and you just rsync the resulting archive to your backup of choice. That way you can take advantage of his restore functionality if needed, vs. figuring out what needs to be extracted from your archives.

 

Just point your script to backup the .tar.gz file his program creates and be happy.