Automatic Backups

Automatic Backups

Simple. Just use a cron task to invoke the Backup CLI.

I recommend you use Whenever, a Ruby Gem that allows you to write elegant syntax for managing the crontab.

Example

• Generate a schedule.rb file with the Whenever gem

$ mkdir config # Whenever assumes a `config` directory exists
$ wheneverize
~ [add] writing './config/schedule.rb'
~ [done] wheneverized!

• Open the config/schedule.rb file and add the following:

every 1.day, :at => '4:30 am' do
  command "backup perform -t my_backup"
end

• Run whenever with no arguments see the crontab entry this will create

$ whenever
~ 30 4 * * * /bin/bash -l -c 'backup perform -t my_backup'
~
~ ## [message] Above is your schedule file converted to cron syntax; your crontab file was not updated.
~ ## [message] Run 'whenever --help' for more options.

• To write (or update) this job in your crontab, use:

$ whenever --update-crontab
~ [write] crontab file written

$ crontab -l # to view the crontab entry
~ # Begin Whenever generated tasks for: /absolute/path/to/config/schedule.rb
~ 30 4 * * * /bin/bash -l -c 'backup perform -t my_backup'
~
~  
~ # End Whenever generated tasks for: /absolute/path/to/config/schedule.rb

Note that Whenever uses the absolute path to the schedule.rb file as an identifier for this file's entries in your crontab. If you wish to specify an identifier, use the -f option to specify the schedule.rb file, then use the -w (write/update) or -c (clear) options and specify the identifier.

So, to continue with this example...

• Remove the crontab entry which you just added and replace it with one specifying the identifier

$ whenever --clear-crontab
~ [write] crontab file

$ whenever -f config/schedule.rb -w 'my backup'
~ [write] crontab file

$ crontab -l
~ # Begin Whenever generated tasks for: my backup
~ 30 4 * * * /bin/bash -l -c 'backup perform -t my_backup'
~
~
~ # End Whenever generated tasks for: my backup

This simply provides for a more readable crontab. And, if you're managing multiple backup jobs, you can use the -f option and keep all your Whenever files in one place, each named after the backup it schedules.

Check out the Whenever gem's README and Wiki for more information.