Backups & Recovery

UnboundBytes automatically creates and verifies backups of your applications. This guide explains how backups work and how to restore your data.

How Backups Work

Your applications are automatically backed up with every deployment update. Each backup includes:

• Application configuration - Docker Compose files and environment settings
• Application data - Database files, documents, photos, and other stored data (optional)
• Checksum verification - Every backup is verified to ensure it’s complete and uncorrupted

Backups are:

• Encrypted in transit - Protected while uploading to storage
• Verified automatically - We test restore procedures to ensure backups actually work
• Retained securely - Stored in isolated cloud storage only you can access

Creating a Backup

Manual Backups

You can create a manual backup of any deployed application at any time:

1. Go to your application’s page in the portal
2. Click “Backup” in the application menu
3. Choose what to include:
   • Configuration only - Docker Compose files and settings (fastest)
   • Configuration + Data - Everything including application data (recommended)
4. Click “Create Backup” and wait for completion

The backup process typically takes a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on how much data your application stores.

Automatic Backups

Automatic backups are created when:

• You update an application’s configuration
• You upgrade an application to a new version
• Your application is restarted

You can also enable scheduled backups (coming soon) to create backups automatically on a regular schedule.

Viewing Backup History

To see all backups for an application:

1. Go to the application’s page
2. Click “Backup History” (or “Backups”)
3. You’ll see:
   • Backup creation date and time
   • Size of the backup
   • What was included (configuration, data, etc.)
   • Verification status (✓ verified, ✗ failed)

Restoring from Backup

Before You Restore

Restoring a backup will:

• Restore your application to the state it was in when the backup was created
• Stop your current application (be aware of downtime)
• Overwrite current configuration and data with the backed-up version
• Not affect other applications on the same device

Important: Always verify you’re restoring the correct backup before proceeding.

How to Restore

1. Go to the application’s page in the portal
2. Click “Backup History” or “Backups”
3. Find the backup you want to restore
4. Click “Restore from this backup”
5. Confirm that you want to proceed (this cannot be undone)
6. Wait for restoration to complete

The restoration process:

• Downloads the backup from secure storage
• Verifies the backup is complete and uncorrupted
• Stops the current application
• Restores configuration and data
• Restarts the application

This typically takes a few seconds to several minutes, depending on backup size.

What Happens During Backup Verification

UnboundBytes automatically verifies every backup:

1. Existence check - We confirm the backup file exists in storage
2. Checksum validation - We verify the backup hasn’t been corrupted
3. Size verification - We confirm the entire backup was stored successfully

Failed backups are flagged in the portal so you know which backups are safe to restore from.

Backup Retention

Backups are retained according to your account plan:

• Free plan: Last 7 days of backups
• Hobby plan: Last 30 days of backups
• Professional plan: Last 90 days of backups + custom retention

Old backups are automatically deleted to save storage costs. You can manually delete backups at any time by clicking the delete button in the backup history.

Disaster Recovery

If Your Device Fails

If your device becomes unavailable:

1. Set up a new device or use a different server
2. In the portal, go to Devices and add your new device
3. For each application, restore from the most recent backup
4. Your applications will be running on the new device with all your data intact

This process typically takes 10-30 minutes depending on backup sizes.

If You Accidentally Delete Data

If you accidentally deleted files or data in your application:

1. Go to the application’s backup history
2. Find a backup from before the deletion occurred
3. Click “Restore from this backup”
4. Your application will restore to that point in time

Note: This will also restore your application configuration. If you’ve made other changes since then, you’ll need to reapply them.

Backup Storage

Backups are stored in:

• Secure cloud storage - Encrypted and isolated per tenant
• Multiple redundant locations - So backups survive hardware failures
• Separate from your device - If your server fails, your backups are safe

You don’t need to manage backup storage yourself - it’s all handled automatically.

Best Practices

Backup Strategy

• Test restores regularly - Don’t wait for a disaster to discover your backups don’t work
• Keep multiple backup generations - Don’t rely on just one backup
• Document your setup - Note any manual configuration done outside the portal
• Monitor backup status - Check the portal regularly to ensure backups are succeeding

Before Making Major Changes

Always create a manual backup before:

• Updating your application version
• Changing important configuration
• Adding or removing plugins or extensions
• Upgrading your device’s operating system

Storage Management

• Delete backups you no longer need to save storage costs
• Monitor your storage usage in the portal
• Consider your backup retention plan needs
• Archive important backups before they expire

Troubleshooting

Backup Creation Failed

What to do:

1. Check if your device has free disk space
2. Verify your device is online and connected
3. Try creating the backup again
4. If it fails again, check the device logs for errors

Restore Failed

What to do:

1. Verify you’re restoring to a working device
2. Check device logs for errors
3. Try restoring again
4. If it continues to fail, contact support with your device logs

Backup Verification Failed

What to do:

1. Don’t restore from this backup - create a new one instead
2. Check your device’s network connection
3. Verify you have enough storage space
4. Try creating a new backup

If backups consistently fail, contact support for help diagnosing the issue.

See Also

• Troubleshooting Guide - Solve common problems
• Quick Start Guide - Deploy your first app
• Health Monitoring - Monitor your applications