This article covers all VPS backup and dedicated server backup options available at HOSTDOG — managed backups included with Advanced and Premium tiers, VPS snapshots, and manual backup strategies. You will also learn how to request a restoration.

If your managed services tier is Advanced or Premium, HOSTDOG automatically runs incremental remote backups of your entire server:

• 7 daily backups — A new backup every day, retained for one week
• 4 weekly backups — One backup per week, retained for one month
• 1 monthly offsite backup — Stored in a separate location for disaster recovery

These backups are incremental, meaning only changed data is transferred after the initial full backup. This makes them efficient in both time and storage.

Managed backups run automatically — no setup or maintenance is required from you.

Snapshots capture the complete state of your Cloud VPS at a specific moment. They are ideal for quick rollbacks before making changes, but they are not a replacement for offsite backups because they are stored on the same infrastructure.

For full instructions on creating and restoring snapshots, see How to use Cloud VPS snapshots.

Regardless of your managed services tier, you can implement your own backup strategy. Common approaches:

• rsync to remote storage — Synchronise files to another server or cloud storage using rsync over SSH
• Database dumps — Schedule automated MySQL/PostgreSQL dumps with mysqldump or pg_dump
• Tar archives — Create compressed archives of important directories and transfer them offsite

Example of a scheduled database backup:

# Add to crontab: daily MySQL dump at 02:00
0 2 * * * /usr/bin/mysqldump --all-databases | gzip > /backup/db-$(date +\%Y\%m\%d).sql.gz

To restore data from a managed backup:

1. Navigate to the HOSTDOG homepage and click the Log in button
2. Open a support ticket specifying:
   • Which server needs restoration
   • The date of the backup you want to restore from
   • Whether you need a full server restore or specific files/directories
3. HOSTDOG support processes the restoration and notifies you when complete

For maximum data protection, combine multiple backup methods:

• Managed backups (Advanced/Premium tier) for automated, offsite daily protection
• Snapshots before any major changes for instant rollback capability
• Manual database dumps for granular database recovery points

This layered approach ensures you always have a recovery option regardless of the scenario.

• Understanding HOSTDOG managed services
• How to use Cloud VPS snapshots
• Getting started with your HOSTDOG Cloud VPS
• Getting started with your dedicated server