How to Back Up and Restore Client Accounts in WHM
Regular backups are essential for protecting your clients' data. As a reseller, you have several options for backing up and restoring client accounts through WHM.
Backup Options for Resellers
- Client-Initiated Backups via cPanel — Full or partial backups from the client's cPanel
- WHM Backup Management — Manage backups for all accounts centrally
- JetBackup — Advanced scheduled backups with granular restore (if available on server)
Creating a Full Backup for a Client
From WHM
- Go to Account Functions > List Accounts
- Click the cPanel icon next to the client's account
- In cPanel, go to Files > Backup or Backup Wizard
- Click Download a Full Account Backup
- Choose destination: Home Directory or Remote FTP/SCP Server
- Click Generate Backup
Restoring a Client Account
Full Account Restore
- Log in to WHM
- Go to Transfers > Restore a Full Backup/cpmove File
- Upload or specify the path to the backup
.tar.gzfile - Click Restore
Partial Restores
- Files: cPanel > Files > Backup > Restore > upload home directory backup
- Database: cPanel > Files > Backup > Restore a MySQL Database > upload
.sql.gz - Email: cPanel > Files > Backup > upload email configuration backup
Using JetBackup (If Available)
JetBackup in WHM provides:
- Browse backups by date and account
- Restore individual files without full account restore
- Restore specific databases or email accounts
- Download backups for offline storage
- Queue restores for off-peak hours
Your clients can also self-service restore via JetBackup in their cPanel.
Backup Best Practices
- Daily for active websites, weekly for occasional sites, before major changes always
- Do not rely solely on server backups — download to external storage
- Periodically test restoring a backup to verify integrity
- Communicate your backup policy to clients and include in TOS
Common Issues
Backup File Too Large
Use SSH/SCP for direct transfer or increase PHP upload limits.
Restore Fails
Ensure the backup is not corrupted, verify disk space, and contact Domain India support for complex restores.
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Need help? Contact our support team at https://domainindia.com/support/client/support.