Ploop/Backup

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Revision as of 23:15, 13 June 2013 by Kir (talk | contribs) (nitpicks)
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How backup via snapshot is done

This article explains how to do consistent file-based backups for ploop containers, using ploop snapshot feature.

Backup types

There are two ways of doing backups, both have their pros and cons.

  • When doing an image backup, one copies ploop image files directly. There can be only one big file, or maybe a few relatively big files. Copying a few big files (rather than a lot of small files) is faster because there's not too much metadata (file info) to be copied). Also, filesystem properties are fully preserving (since images containing the filesystem are copied).
  • When doing a file backup, one copies individual container' files. This is more suitable if you want selective backups (such as only some directories/files).

The following table summarizes pros and cons of both approaches.

Characteristic Image File
Incremental backups Yes Yes/No*
Selective backups No Yes
Faster full backup and restore Yes No
Preserve filesystem properties Yes No
Compatible with pre-ploop backups No Yes
Restore individual files Yes Yes

Image-based backup

Assuming you have a running container identified by $CTID. The following needs to be done:

# Known snapshot ID
ID=$(uuidgen)
VE_PRIVATE=$(VEID=$CTID; source /etc/vz/vz.conf; source /etc/vz/conf/$CTID.conf; echo $VE_PRIVATE)

# Take a snapshot without suspending a CT and saving its config
vzctl snapshot $CTID --id $ID --skip-suspend --skip-config

# Perform a backup using your favorite backup tool
# (cp is just an example)
cp $VE_PRIVATE/root.hdd/* /backup/destination

# Delete (merge) the snapshot
vzctl snapshot-delete $CTID --id $ID

File-based backup

Assuming you have a running container identified by $CTID. The following needs to be done:

# Known snapshot ID
ID=$(uuidgen)

# Directory used to mount a snapshot
MNTDIR=./mnt
mkdir $MNTDIR

# Take a snapshot without suspending a CT and saving its config
vzctl snapshot $CTID --id $ID --skip-suspend --skip-config

# Mount the snapshot taken
vzctl snapshot-mount $CTID --id $ID --target $MNTDIR

# Perform a backup using your favorite backup tool
# (tar is just an example)
tar cf backup.tar.xz $MNTDIR

# Unmount the snapshot
vzctl snapshot-umount $CTID --id $ID

# Delete (merge) the snapshot
vzctl snapshot-delete $CTID --id $ID

See also