How to Restore cPanel Incremental Backups on Another Server

cPanel's incremental backups are handy until you need one on a different server: they are folders, not the single archive file that restore tools expect. This guide shows how to turn an incremental account backup into a restorable archive, copy it to a new cPanel server and restore it with WHM or restorepkg, then check the result before you switch DNS.

1. What an incremental backup looks like

In WHM › Backup Configuration you choose a backup type: compressed, uncompressed or incremental.

An incremental account folder is usually at /backup/incremental/accounts/USER/, with weekly and monthly copies in similar incremental folders if you retain them. Check the backup directory set in Backup Configuration if yours differs. Inside the folder you will find the same parts as in a compressed backup: homedir/, mysql/, mail and DNS data, and the account's settings files.

2. Before you start

• Root SSH access to both servers, and SSH open between them.
• cPanel/WHM on the new server, at the same or a newer version than the old one.
• Free disk space on both servers of at least the account's size, for the archive.
• Compatible software. Check that the PHP versions and database server the site uses are available on the new server.
• A free username. The account username must not already exist on the new server.

3. Package the incremental folder

On the old server (or wherever the backup is stored):

mkdir -p /root/migrate
cd /backup/incremental/accounts
tar -czf /root/migrate/USER.tar.gz USER
ls -lh /root/migrate/USER.tar.gz

Replace USER with the cPanel username. Running tar from the accounts folder keeps USER/ as the top-level folder inside the archive, which is what a compressed cPanel backup looks like and what the restore tools expect.

4. Copy the archive to the new server

rsync -av --progress /root/migrate/USER.tar.gz root@NEW-SERVER-IP:/home/

scp works too. If you prefer to copy the folder itself instead of an archive, use rsync -aH so the hard links in the incremental folder are kept, and package it on the new server as in section 3.

5. Restore the account

You can use WHM or the command line. Both create the cPanel account from the backup, so do not create the account beforehand: the restore stops if the username already exists.

If the old server is still online, WHM's Transfer Tool is often simpler: it connects to the old server over SSH and copies accounts directly, with no archive handling.

6. Check the account before switching DNS

Test the restored site on the new server before visitors reach it.

• Preview with a hosts file entry. Point the domain at the new server's IP in your computer's hosts file and browse the site.
• Databases. Confirm each database and database user exists and the site connects.
• Email. Log in to webmail and check that mailboxes and forwarders came across.
• PHP version. Check the domain's PHP version in the new server's MultiPHP Manager.
• SSL. Let AutoSSL issue a new certificate once DNS points at the new server.
• Cron jobs. Review them; paths may differ on the new server.

When everything works, update the domain's nameservers or A records to the new server.

7. On Domain India hosting

• Restore on Domain India: open JetBackup 5 in cPanel and restore the whole account or just files, a database or email. See Backup and restore with JetBackup.
• Take a copy with you: download a full account backup from JetBackup 5; see how can I download a backup of my site. Ask your new host whether they can import it, or give them your files and database exports.
• VPS: a Domain India VPS is self-managed, and cPanel is not offered on it, so the WHM steps above apply to cPanel servers you run elsewhere.

The card shows cPanel hosting with JetBackup 5 backups included, at its live price excluding 18% GST.

Ready to restore or move a site? Use JetBackup 5 in cPanel from your hosting services, read Backup and restore with JetBackup, or open a ticket if you need help.