Alibaba Cloud RDS backup, I finally chose these three ways
I have been using Alibaba Cloud RDS for many years, and the biggest pit has been stepped on – I thought that the ‘backup and recovery’ of the console is very reliable, but when I found that it really needs to be restored, it will make youBuy a new example first. as shown in Figure 1
It doesn’t mean that you can’t do this, but every time you miss the operation, you buy a new instance and then import the data, and it is a waste of time. Then I slowly explored a setSuitable for individual webmasters or small teamsThe backup and recovery plan, share it.
1. If it is a WordPress database: directly use the plug-in
My own blog is WordPress and the database is on RDS. In the past, I used to use DMS to export. Every time I have to log in to Alibaba Cloud, enter the console, find instances, log in to the database, enter DMS, click export, download… Too troublesome.
Later installed UpdraftPlus Plugins, which can be backed up and restored directly in the WordPress background. as shown in Figure 2
- Backup: Click ‘Backup Now’, the database + website files are packaged together, which can be saved to Baidu Netdisk, Alibaba Cloud OSS or local.
- Restore: Click ‘Restore’ in the plugin, select a backup set, and wait for a while.
Key points: I have never opened DMS to back up the WordPress database, and it is completely done with plugins. The plugin will also automatically back up regularly, worry-free.
Suitable for scenarios: daily tossing themes, plug-ins, insurance before manually changing the database.
2. If it is not a database of WordPress: DMS import and export
There are also some small applications, not WordPress, and the database is also on RDS. For example, an internal tool system, or a small website written by yourself.
In this case, updraftplus doesn’t work, I’ll be honest and practical DMS, as shown in Figure 3.
The operation is also very simple:
- Log in to DMS, find the target database, click ‘Export the Library’ or ‘Database Export’, select the SQL format, and download it to the local.
- When recovering, click ‘Data Import’ to upload the SQL file exported before.
Note: A single file cannot exceed 5GB, if your table is too large, you can export it separately. In addition, remember to save the exported sql file to the local computer, and don’t just leave it on the server.
3. If you forget to back up, you can still help: RDS’s ‘Library Table Recovery’
People are always lazy.
For example, yesterday, a script of my own batch manipulation tags, I feel that the risk is controllable, and I didn’t use UpdraftPlus to back up before running. As a result, a large number of DELETE statements are executed… The tag records are largely deleted.
Then I remembered:Alibaba Cloud RDS console has a ‘library table recovery’ function, not the ‘Backup Recovery’ (the one that asks you to buy a new instance), it is a separate ‘Library Table Recovery’. as shown in Figure 4
How to use?:
- Enter the RDS console → your instance → backup and restore → library table recovery(Seeing it, it’s not ‘database recovery’).
- Select the library or table you want to restore, and then select a time point (such as half an hour ago).
- Submitted, it will be automatically restored to another database, and it will be back in a few minutes.
Advantage: You don’t need to buy a new instance, and it doesn’t affect other tables, just restore the tables you selected. And as long as your backup policy is normal (such as snapshots are reserved for 7 days), it can be restored at any point within 7 days.
Shortcoming: Only the last few days (depending on the length of your backup) can only be restored, not across regions, nor can it be restored to another instance. But for the scenario of hand-sliding and correcting the wrong data, it is completely enough.
4. Summary of my daily operations
| Situation | What do i use |
|---|---|
| WordPress change code / before changing data | UpdraftPlus Quick Backup |
| Regular backups of non-WordPress databases | DMS export sql to local |
| Forgot to backup, misoperated | RDS library table recovery |
Console’s Instance Backup Recovery, I basically only use one thing to do: if I want to delete the library before running away (just kidding) or when I need to do a large-scale data migration, I will consider it. Usually it is not used, because it is too tossing to open a new instance to restore it.
5. How to set up a backup strategy to save money
The backup storage of RDS is charged, but the free quota is generally enough (such as 100GB storage space, and the free quota is 200GB). My own settings are (default settings), as shown in Figure 5:
- Snapshot backup keep the number of days: 7 days (minimum, can’t be shorter)
- backup cycle: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (minimum 2 times, I choose 3 times)
- Log backup: Open, keep for 7 days
- Recover at any point in time: Close (the library table recovery is enough)
- Cross-regional backup: Close (to spend extra money, no need)
In this way, the monthly backup cost is basically 0, which is enough to cover the data rollback requirements of any table within 7 days.
6. Tell me a real feeling
If you are also maintaining several small websites by yourself, don’t be superstitious about the ‘Backup Recovery’ button of the RDS console. The scenarios it designs are large companies, high availability, and remote disaster recovery, and individual users are awkward to use.
InsteadUpdraftPlus + DMS import and export + RDS library table recovery, these three tools are combined to be flexible and save money.
Of course, the best habit is:Backup before operation. But I forgot that library table recovery can save lives.
The above are all personal experiences, not necessarily applicable to all scenarios, for reference only.
