Backing up linux server settings / What should be backed up?

Question

I've set up two linux boxes (dedicated hosting) and I want to make a backup of the server settings on both just in case something goes wrong and I need to restore the settings.

The hosting provider and I have made changes to the following:

csf
iptables
php settings
/etc/resolv.conf
NFS configuration (NFS settings, /etc/exports, etc)
a few services currently running / enabled

1. Is there anything else that I should be taking a backup of?
2. What are the proper commands for backing each of these up?

Its a RHEL5 system and my application is using PHP + MYSQL. I dont know where I should pick up custom MYSQL settings from.

Answer 1

A few notes about items you mentioned:

• iptables keeps all its settings in /etc/sysconfig/iptables
• The key with php is in /etc/php.ini. Yes, a .ini file on linux. I believe it also keeps some information under /etc/httpd/conf.d/php.conf, if you also have apache installed.
• /etc/resolv.conf is the file that controls where the nameserver is that the system uses.
• nfs config info is under /etc/exports
• service run state is all controlled by the status of /etc/rc.d and the links under there.

So if you back up everything under /etc as sleske mentioned, you should be good.

The one exception is that stock MySQL databases are kept in /var/lib/mysql. But if you try to back up that directory, you might run into file locking issues. So what you should do is to run mysqldump --all-databases > your_backup_filename and then back up your_backup_filename. To automatically run it, put it in a cronjob.

You don't mention what program you use to make php useful, maybe it's Apache? If that's the case, then you'll also probably want to back up /var/www; all Apache's documents/logs go there.

Answer 2

By convention, under Linux all configuration settings are stored in files under /etc/ (for systemwide settings), or in dotfiles/dot-directories in the user's $HOME (for user-specific settings). Sometimes there may be stuff under /usr/local/etc, for apps installed under /usr/local.

So backing up that should be enough.

There are a few exceptions (e.g. boot manager configuration is under /boot, though e.g. Debian autogenerates the file from a file under /etc/ to maintain the convention), but I don't think any of the packages you list do this.

Of course, for an easy restore you should just back up the whole server (possible excluding some huge files you don't need). Why don't you just make a full backup?

Answer 3

You might want to look into etckeeper