How to upload/import app backup in Cloudron

[d19dotca]

So I need to long-archive some backups for a couple of apps for various reasons and so I noticed there was a newer "Download backup" option from an app backup, so I downloaded that and because it was encrypted I had to decrypt it from the documentation which worked successfully.

However this brings me to the next portion which I don't see documented (please forgive me if I missed it though)... how does one go about restoring from a backup file on my computer's disk? Do I need to upload it to the server first and then restore as a filesystem backup for example? I didn't see a way to just select the tgz file from my local computer when trying to import a backup for example.

Is there a documented process for uploading/importing a backup from local disk?

My guess (but wanted to get confirmation of this from a more official stance if possible since I didn't see it documented anywhere):

1. Download the app backup
2. Import app backup by way of SFTP or SCP to the server
3. Select filesystem as backup on Import Backup portion and then point to the encrypted file and enter the passphrase?

Would love some insight please. Thank you!

[robi]

@d19dotca from your description I am missing the restore options currently available described in your attempt? to import an app backup.

[girish]

@d19dotca your guess is correct. Currently, there is no way to "upload" a backup into the server via the UI. You have to scp it and then import.

I guess we haven't added this because mostly the backups are external and you can just import directly from external backup. Is this backup on your laptop? Any reason why you cannot import it directly from external storage directly?

[scooke]

@girish this probably isn't the same scenario as OP, but this would be super handy for me because I have previously changed my backup destinations due to space or finances. I've downloaded some of those backups, thinking that if need be, I could re-upload them if I ever needed them, and restore the same way as described. But being able to just choose the backup on my laptop or external USB drive from the Cloudron Restore window, and have it upload and restore, or even restore right from where it is, would be awesome.

[luckow]

to bring more complexity to this topic
I wanted to restore a backup of an app today that was deployed via a Private Docker Registry. Don't ask, but I migrated the private Docker Registry to another instance a few weeks ago. Guess what: no chance to restore the backup.
That's not a big deal, it was just something to test. But it feels wrong when there is a label BACKUP & RESTORE and it doesn't work.

IMHO we need to "rethink" the whole backup issue and make it clear what is possible and what is not. I am a big fan of "alerts" like

Updates & Backups

As the app is hosted externally, managing app updates and backups of proxied apps are outside the scope of Cloudron.

taken from here https://docs.cloudron.io/apps/#app-proxy

But: It is not only a question of good documentation. It's also a user interface issue. You know: Nobody reads docs

[d19dotca]

@girish said in How to upload/import app backup in Cloudron:

Is this backup on your laptop? Any reason why you cannot import it directly from external storage directly?

Cloudron backs up to s3 (IDrive) nightly, but in my particular use-case recently I had three websites to "retire" so I wanted to uninstall them from the Cloudron dashboard while keeping the backups long-term which is why I chose to use the Download Backup function while trying to document a process for re-uploading the website apps (WordPress) if the client decides they need it again down the road / next year.

Essentially for the rare occurrence where I need to remove an app for a longer period of time, it's super easy to download the app backup file directly via Cloudron however there seems to be no easy way to upload it. Is it possible to add the option to select a file via Upload from Computer instead of having to SCP it and then use the path? Would be a much better UX IMO.

[girish]

@d19dotca said in How to upload/import app backup in Cloudron:

Is it possible to add the option to select a file via Upload from Computer instead of having to SCP it and then use the path?

yes, definitely. Can you make a feature request and link to this post? Quite easy to implement I think since we just need to upload a file and extract. Thanks!

[d19dotca]

@girish said in How to upload/import app backup in Cloudron:

Can you make a feature request and link to this post?

Filed it here: https://forum.cloudron.io/topic/8359/ability-to-import-backups-from-computer-disk-rather-than-needing-to-scp-files/1