Dedicated Backup Server Configuration
Hi,
I hope this is posted in the right place.
I am looking into getting a dedicated backup server and i have some questions. I will be using it to store backups created on cPanel but it will just store the data, the data wont be actually used on that server, its just a storage device (not a webserver). I hope to create a backup via cPanel on server1 and then port that backup to server2 every day.
1. Do i need a host name for the backup server? I should just be able to go by IP right?
2. I think all i should need is just the OS on the backup server and nothing else?
3. Someone from the server company suggested i might have to have cpanel on both servers but i dont think thats true? One can be cPanel and the other just OS
Thanks :)
UPDATE: Maybe its both.... maybe its like this.... If i rent a preconfiged webserver (they are less cost) then i would need a hostname for it even though im just putting files in the dir. If i rent a preconfiged storage server i dont need a hostname and i can still just put the files in the dir.. Does that sound right?
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You certainly don't need cPanel on the backup server - the simplest thing to do is to get a plain OS install and then configure an FTP server and account on it so that server1 can log into it and transfer the backups across. plain CentOS server would be ideal. A hostname is not required either - cPanel can connect to the backup server just by its IP address. I'd recommend securing the backup server though - configure the firewall to only allow connections from your cPanel server and you should be good to go. 0 -
Thanks Penquin, i appreciate that, sounds like a great plan. :) 0 -
. Do i need a host name for the backup server? I should just be able to go by IP right?
Are you getting the backup server in the same data center? If yes, you should ask them for private IP's this way all the traffic goes through the private network and doesn't affect your allotted bandwidth, this will also avoid any bottle necks that may come about during backups. This will also provide you with better security as you can firewall off all public traffic to the server and only allow the private space to access.. I think all i should need is just the OS on the backup server and nothing else?
Yes but keep in mind about security, you still want to put up a firewall like CSF and block ALL ports to the server, just white list the IP's that will be accessing the backup server to prevent brute force attempts and many other attacks that can take place on the server.. Someone from the server company suggested i might have to have cpanel on both servers but i dont think thats true? One can be cPanel and the other just OS
That would be a waste unless you were going to be using it as a fail over in case your live server ever went down. Otherwise, plain OS using cPanel's SFTP or rsync transfer method is best.0 -
Hello, Let us know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. 0 -
Hi thanks for the info, sorry for the late reply as i just got the server today. Its on centOS 6. I know i can create a directory anywhere but is there a standard place that i should create the directory? Remember i have no web so no home directory although i could create one i suppose. 0 -
Hi thanks for the info, sorry for the late reply as i just got the server today. Its on centOS 6. I know i can create a directory anywhere but is there a standard place that i should create the directory? Remember i have no web so no home directory although i could create one i suppose.
There's no required location since it's a standalone server. Assuming there's a single partition, /backup is a common choice. Thank you.0 -
Thanks :) I assume i cant use the WHM transfer option to send the backup zip file from the cpanel account to the backup server via IP. It looks to me that the transfer option is just for account associated data. 0 -
The cPanel backup option does support this - you should be able to just use the backup server IP address, username & password (along with destination directory) when configuring this and it will then transfer the backup files across automatically each time the backup is run. 0 -
Thanks so much 0 -
Hi, is there a windows desktop application that i can use to manage my centOS6 linux backup server and firewall? 0 -
Hi, is there a windows desktop application that i can use to manage my centOS6 linux backup server and firewall?
Install Webmin on the server, then use a browser on your Windows desktop to connect to it0 -
Hi and thanks, the problem is that webmin requires a web server to run on as it requires php and other software. Im looking for a utility that can run on windows (or the server itself) and help me manage it just as it is with OS only on the server. And not have to install a local web server on my pc. Thanks for the clarification on your post, but i prefer not to have to create a webserver to run the utility. 0 -
Just for clarification here is the page im looking at, i think this is what i need but i cant find any info on what they are using as the controller itself. I see what the GUI looks like but it does not talk about the name of that product they are using. techotopia.com/index.php/Basic_CentOS_6_Firewall_Configuration#Configuring_Firewall_Settings_using_the_Wizard 0 -
Webmin has no requirements for any previously installed web server or PHP. It is a stand alone graphic administrator, and contains its own web server. I recommend you install it using the Yum repo, which will resolve any operating system dependencies, and then it will be updated during normal yum update runs: full details from : Installation - Webmin Documentation 0 -
OK thanks ill give it a whirl... i also found a light weight admin tool ajenti.org based on python but it also has its own mini web server built in. But its based off of plugins and you need to be fluent in python and js and html. It seems too complicated for me. I used webmin a very long time ago, ill try it again.. Thanks so much... ill install webmin tonight and update this post. :) 0 -
A warning to anyone else reading this thread - UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE OF SERVER ADMINISTRATION AND OF cPanel AND Webmin, I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU INSTALL Webmin ON ANY SERVER THAT ALREADY HAS (OR WILL HAVE) cPanel ON IT - THERE EXISTS THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE 2 SYSTEMS You have been warned o_O 0 -
it cant find the command after install, i moded the firewall file as instructed Installed: webmin.noarch 0:1.870-1 Dependency Installed: perl-Encode-Detect.x86_64 0:1.01-2.el6 perl-Net-SSLeay.x86_64 0:1.35-10.el6_8.1 Complete! [root@s111581 ~]# iptables-save > /tmp/tabsav [root@s111581 ~]# vi /tmp/tabsav [root@s111581 ~]# firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=10000/tcp --permanent -bash: firewall-cmd: command not found [root@s111581 ~]# firewall-cmd --reload -bash: firewall-cmd: command not found [root@s111581 ~]#0 -
This is why i didnt want to do this, im like 5 min into the install and im already getting into problems. I have a hard enough time with cpanel i dont need another panel where i have to spend hours and hours reading docs to get it to work... the ip tables file does not even exist, why i dont know.... maybe ill just zap the server and start over... grrrrrr I swear its not like i have some complicated freaken system, i just have centOS6 so why is this so hard to just install like a zillion other servers do every day. All of this hassle and frustration just because i want to make a backup and store it remotely. Computers have been around forever now and user interface with panels has been around forever now as well. Why is such a simple task so time consuming and hard to get going, this is just crazy that this is not fully automated when installed on such a basic and well known OS.. [root@s111581 ~]# /etc/init.d/iptables restart iptables: Setting chains to policy ACCEPT: filter [ OK ] iptables: Flushing firewall rules: [ OK ] iptables: Unloading modules: [ OK ] iptables: No config file. [WARNING] [root@s111581 ~]#
I installed configserver firewall everything reads OK on the table check and checked for other table conflicts as suggested in their install file. No tables were found to be installed so it looks good. Now ill just edit csf file and add the port for webmin. If it still blows up ill fry the server and start over.0 -
[quote]manage it just as it is with OS only on the server
But the backup server should have had nothing on it other than a basic CentOS install ?0 -
true i just got it about 10 days ago, nothing else was on it. I did get it going, and i updated the kernel and installed the ssh server. I also discoverd my default host name from the server company which noone told me i had, that info would have helped when i was trying to connect. Oh well im up and running, i just need to get a free ssl cert so i dont have to buy one for the backup server. Do you have a suggestion for a cheap or free hostname cert? Thanks i really appreciate all the help :) 0 -
If you are only going to use the backup server as a file repository for your cPanel backups from the production web server - you can happily use a self-signed SSL certificate for it which will cost you nothing. Webmin comes with its own ssl certificate installed by default, but some browsers refuse to accept it. You may be able to fix this by using a method like the one described at Replace webmin self-signed certificate to avoid sec_error_invalid_key error Alternatively, just disable SSL login encryption by going to Webmin > Webmin Configuration > SSL Encryption > Enable SSL? > NO You will then be able to login via a normal http:// connection You will probably get more help directly from the 0 -
OK thanks so much, you have been quite awesome, and it is so very appreciated, thank you! I may go ahead and just get a hostname cert even though my original plan was to just use it as a file repository. Now that i have webmin on here i may have some other uses for it and so having a valid hostname registered will be helpfull. I still have my opensrs account from the old days so that will help get that done. Thanks again :) gold star!! 0 -
hi, sorry this is just not gonna work out for me. It was a nice thought but here i am trying to install virtualmin and it wont install because it does not have the stupid theme with it, i cant find the theme. And then im having to set up apache and mysql, and all the other BS that i didnt want to have to do. I had plans for today and here i am for over 4 hours now trying to set up this stupid thing up.... Im just gonna have my server company zap the server and ill start all over again from scratch. If i cant find a way to make the whmeasybackup work with my remote server then ill just figure out something... Thanks for trying but this stuff is just way over my head and i dont have the time or the patience for it. 0 -
Couple of points: (with apologies in advance) 1) You list yourself as a Root Administrator, so I am puzzled why you want to install whmeasybackup which is specifically aimed at resellers. 2) Virtualmin is a competitor to cPanel for shared web hosting (and it doesn't come anywhere close to cPanel for usability and features) - I don't understand why you should want to install it on a box that you originally wanted as a backup server. 3) It takes years to learn about administrating and setting up linux servers (especially remotely) - it's not something you can do in a couple of weeks ........ I'm still learning after 40 years ! 4) If you don't have the patience or inclination to learn how to do it yourself, the only alternative is hire someone to do it for you. There is a comprehensive list in these forums of administrative services on offer. 0 -
[QUOTE] Couple of points: (with apologies in advance)
You dont need to apologize you did nothing wrong.. :) [QUOTE] 1) You list yourself as a Root Administrator, so I am puzzled why you want to install whmeasybackup which is specifically aimed at resellers.
The only reason i am listed as that is because there is no setting for green-untrained-clueless-administrator lol I want to install the whmeasybackup because its automated and i dont have to spend my personal upload and download internet plan time creating and downloading backups that are 30-50 GB, it totally eats up my plan. Once i get it set up then im done and i can just let it do its thing and i dont have to babysit it. I have all my domains under one reseller so im using that under that reseller account. [QUOTE] 2) Virtualmin is a competitor to cPanel for shared web hosting (and it doesn't come anywhere close to cPanel for usability and features) - I don't understand why you should want to install it on a box that you originally wanted as a backup server.
Because i dont have the knowledge to find out whats going on myself, and i need some kind of GUI to tell me. I got a hostname today and a new domain to use on it. I wanted to install ssh so i could use it to help me connect. Cpanel is not connecting to the server no matter what i try.0 -
OK i got it... after server setup fresh i did putty to putty and found the error. See other post linked above for the issue :) 0 -
Personally, I wouldn't be looking at adding web interfaces or management interfaces to the backup server - this should be able to operate quite happily with just a plain CentOS install with the firewall and FTP server set up. Once the firewall is configured, very little should change given the cPanel server has a static IP address. If you need a hand getting it configured, give me a shout and I'd be happy to help as it's a pretty quick job to do. 0 -
Thanks, i shot you a message... :) 0 -
If you are looking to backup your server, just simply use the backup configuration section of WHM, it will not only make the backups but also send them to another server easily without all th is fuss... :) I learned something today i guess.. 0 -
Sounds like you've had an adventure so far durangod! I'm a little confused as to why you felt the need to setup an entire backup server, just to backup one server? Is the disk usage that big on your main server? Or are you doing it so often you're worried about bandwidth usage? I backup my complete server (compressed files) through the WHM backup interface to my google drive 4 times a week and with a 4 copy retention setting. The 100 Gig google drive is a whopping $1.99 a month. I couldn't believe how easy it was to setup and automate this. I could see having a backup server myself if I had multiple servers to backup, but for a single server it would seem like cloud storage (especially since it can be automated from WHM to work with google drive or Amazon Sas) is just such a simple solution. Would love to hear your thoughts on the advantages of having a full machine just to load the backups to. 0
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