Backups & Restore (JetBackup)

Restoring from JetBackup in DirectAdmin

Updated 5 min read
Knowledge base article
Contents (15 sections)

JetBackup in DirectAdmin allows you to restore your website files, databases, email accounts, and other components from automated backup snapshots. This guide covers the complete restoration process.

Accessing Restore Options

  1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel
  2. Navigate to Extra Features or Advanced Features
  3. Click on JetBackup
  4. You will see the available backup types and restore options

Viewing Available Backups

Before restoring, check which backup snapshots are available:

  1. In JetBackup, click on the backup category (Files, Databases, Emails, etc.)
  2. You will see a list of available backup dates
  3. Each entry shows the backup date, time, and size
  4. Select the appropriate backup point based on when your site was last working correctly

Tip: Choose the most recent backup from before the issue occurred. If you are unsure when the problem started, work backwards from the most recent backup.

Restoring Files

Full File Restore

  1. In JetBackup, go to File Backups
  2. Select the backup date you want to restore from
  3. Click Restore for a full file restoration
  4. Confirm the restore action
  5. Wait for the process to complete

Selective File Restore

To restore specific files or directories without overwriting everything:

  1. Go to File Backups
  2. Select the backup date
  3. Click Browse/Manage Files or File Manager
  4. Navigate to the specific file or folder you want to restore
  5. Select the items using checkboxes
  6. Click Restore Selected
  7. Choose whether to:
    • Overwrite existing files
    • Restore alongside existing files (with a different name)
  8. Confirm and wait for completion

Tip: For selective restores, use the file browser to compare backup contents with your current files before restoring.

Restoring Databases

Full Database Restore

  1. In JetBackup, go to Database Backups
  2. Select the backup date
  3. Find the database you want to restore
  4. Click Restore
  5. Confirm the action — this will overwrite the current database contents
  6. Wait for the restore to complete

Download Database Backup

If you prefer to restore manually or want to inspect the data first:

  1. Go to Database Backups
  2. Select the backup date
  3. Click Download to get the SQL dump file
  4. Review the dump file if needed
  5. Import manually via phpMyAdmin or command line

Tip: Before restoring a database, export the current database as a backup. This gives you a fallback if the restored version has issues.

Restoring Email

  1. In JetBackup, go to Email Backups
  2. Select the backup date
  3. Choose the email account(s) to restore
  4. Click Restore
  5. Confirm the action
  6. Restored emails will appear in the mailbox

Restoring DNS Zones

  1. In JetBackup, go to DNS Zone Backups (if available)
  2. Select the backup date
  3. Click Restore to restore the DNS zone configuration
  4. DNS changes may take up to 24-48 hours to propagate

Full Account Restore

To restore your entire account (files, databases, emails, settings):

  1. In JetBackup, go to Full Account Backups
  2. Select the backup date
  3. Click Restore
  4. Select which components to restore:
    • Files
    • Databases
    • Emails
    • DNS zones
    • SSL certificates
    • Cron jobs
  5. Confirm and wait for the full restoration

Tip: A full account restore can take significant time for large accounts. Do not interrupt the process or log out during restoration.

Important Warnings

  • Restoring overwrites current data: Any changes made after the backup date will be lost for the restored components
  • Database restore is destructive: The current database is completely replaced. Always export the current database before restoring.
  • Partial restores are safer: If you only need specific files, use selective restore rather than a full restore
  • DNS restore may cause downtime: Restoring DNS zones may affect email and website accessibility during propagation

After Restoring

  1. Test your website: Browse all major pages and test forms, login, and checkout functionality
  2. Check database connections: Verify database credentials in your CMS configuration file match the restored database
  3. Test email: Send and receive a test email
  4. Clear caches: Clear any application caches (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) and CDN caches
  5. Check SSL: Verify your SSL certificate is still valid and installed

Troubleshooting

  • Restore fails or hangs: Your account may be over quota. Free up space and try again. If it persists, contact support.
  • Website broken after restore: Check your CMS configuration file (e.g., wp-config.php) — database credentials may not match.
  • Missing backup points: Backups are retained for a limited period. Older backups may have been rotated out.
  • Permission errors after restore: File permissions may need to be reset. Use the DirectAdmin file manager or SSH to fix permissions.
  • Database connection error: The database user or password may have changed. Update the credentials in your application config file.

Need help restoring from a backup? Contact Domain India support at [email protected] or open a ticket at https://domainindia.com/support.

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Restoring from JetBackup in DirectAdmin - Knowledge Base