There are a number of ways to backup your important data and files contained in your Virtual Cloud Server. The ISPmanager, Plesk and cPanel/WHM control panels have backup features that you can use. You can also purchase a third party backup service, or configure your own backup scheme. Most customers, however, want a general backup service that can be used to manage backups for any and all Virtual Servers in their account. We provide two backup services for this purpose. Customers can even have both services at the same time.
This service allows you to create daily backups and maintain these backups for a specified number of days, weeks, months or years. You can restore a backup to your Virtual Server but can not access individual files without assistance from eApps. The backups are created, retained and stored on site on the eApps hosting platform. This service is is easy to use. A Basic backup can also be used to clone (copy) an existing Virtual Cloud Server.
This is a commercial grade backup service that uses software from Acronis, a leading vendor in backup software. The software is designed for efficiency and full control of backup management. Two key benefits are the ability to schedule backups at frequent intervals to minimize the risk of data loss, and the ability to retrieve individual files without assistance from eApps. Other benefits are the ability to backup MySQL and MariaDB databases with a clean cutoff, and the ability to configure reports on the status of backups. This service is a little more complicated due to the powerful features provided.
A comparison of features follows:
| Feature | Basic Backup Service (BBS) | Enterprise Backup Service (EBS) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup approach | tar and gzip for Linux, ntfsclone and gzip for Windows | Proprietary block level incremental copy | EBS approach is very efficient. EBS can be configured to ensure clean backups of MySQL and MariaDB databases |
| Backup process location | Runs on the Hypervisor (server where the VS is located) | Runs on the Virtual Server (VS) | EBS requires very little VS resources |
| Frequency and retention | Daily; with # of days, weeks, months, years of retention. Can also make and retain ad hoc backups | Frequency down to as often as a few minutes, with up to 200 recovery points (retentions) per backup schedule | More frequent backups reduces the risk of data loss |
| File exclusions | No, the entire VS is backed up | Yes, files and directories can be excluded from backup | Both services backup the entire VS, EBS allows for file exclusions |
| Administration interface | Customer Portal | Backup vendor's administrative interface | For EBS, the vendor's interface is securely integrated into the Customer Portal |
| Storage location of backups | On separate storage system in the same data center location as the Virtual Server | On separate storage system in the same data center location as the Virtual Server | Contact eApps Sales for information on Disaster Recovery services |
| Ability to retrieve individual files? | Yes, but requires assistance from eApps Support | Yes, using the Administration interface, without requiring assistance | |
| Ability to restore a Virtual Server from Backup? | Yes, from the Customer Portal | Yes, you must submit a request from the Enterprise Backup Center in your Portal. | |
| Ability to use a backup as a clone for a new VS? | Yes, but requires assistance from eApps Support | No | |
| Status reporting? | No | Yes, default and customer configured automated reporting | Both services have summary status information in the Customer Portal |
| Encryption | No | Yes | EBS allows configuration of encrypted backups |
| Managed Option | No | Yes, an optional managed backup service is offered which includes the following features. Pricing is tiered, at the account level, based on how many servers are being backed up.
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| Pricing | Pre-purchased blocks of backup space for the account at $0.40 per GB per month, with overages billed at a higher rate | Pre-purchased blocks of backup space, by data center, at $0.20 per GB per month, with overages billed at a higher rate | Software for EBS was replaced by another Vendor's software in 2018. Customer's are advised to replace their BBS with EBS. |
| How to order? | Visit our Store or contact eApps Sales for a Basic Backup Service quote | Visit our Store or contact eApps Sales for an Enterprise Backup Service quote |
