If you want to reduce the size of your backups or exclude unnecessary files and folders from a Plesk backup, you can configure exclusions in the Backup Manager. This is useful for excluding temporary files, large log files, or other data that you don’t need to back up.
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Log in to Plesk
- Open your web browser and navigate to your Plesk login page:
- Example:
https://yourdomain.com:8443orhttps://your-server-ip:8443.
- Example:
- Enter your username and password, then click Log In.
Step 2: Access the Backup Manager
- Navigate to the Websites & Domains tab in the Plesk control panel.
- Under your domain, locate and click on Backup Manager.
Step 3: Start a New Backup
- In the Backup Manager, click Back Up to create a new backup.
- A new page will open with options to configure your backup.
Step 4: Configure Backup Settings
-
In the Backup Settings, select the type of backup you want to create:
- Full Backup: Backs up all data but allows exclusions.
- Incremental Backup: Backs up only the changes since the last backup.
-
Scroll down to the section labeled Exclude Specific Files from the Backup.
Step 5: Specify Files or Folders to Exclude
-
In the Exclude Specific Files from the Backup field, enter the path of the files or directories you want to exclude.
- Use absolute paths relative to the website's root directory.
- Example paths:
- To exclude a folder:
/httpdocs/temp/ - To exclude a file:
/httpdocs/largefile.zip
- To exclude a folder:
-
For multiple exclusions, list each file or folder on a new line.
Step 6: Save and Start the Backup
- After specifying the exclusions, review the other backup settings, such as:
- Backup Destination: Choose where the backup will be saved (local storage or remote FTP).
- Email Notifications: Optionally, configure email notifications to confirm the backup status.
- Click OK or Back Up to start the backup process. The specified files or folders will be excluded from the backup.
Step 7: Verify the Exclusions
- Once the backup is complete, verify the contents of the backup file by restoring it to a test environment or examining the backup details.
- Confirm that the excluded files and folders are not included in the backup.
Additional Tips
- Wildcard Exclusions: You can use wildcard patterns to exclude multiple files or folders that match a specific pattern.
- Example:
- To exclude all
.logfiles:*.log - To exclude all files in a specific folder:
/httpdocs/temp/*
- To exclude all
- Example:
- Check File Sizes: Use the File Manager in Plesk to identify large files or unnecessary data to exclude from backups.
- Backup Configuration File: If you need to apply exclusions across multiple domains, consider using custom backup scripts or automation tools with Plesk.
Excluding specific files or folders from a Plesk backup is straightforward and can save storage space while ensuring only critical data is backed up. By carefully configuring exclusions in the Backup Manager, you can optimize the backup process to suit your needs.
