Website data loss can strike for all sorts of reasons — a botched plugin update, a hack, or an accidentally deleted file. JetBackup is a backup management system that integrates with DirectAdmin, letting you restore a website quickly without waiting on support. This guide covers JetBackup from the basics through to a real restore.
What Is JetBackup?
JetBackup is a backup management plugin that installs alongside a control panel like DirectAdmin, letting both administrators and regular users back up and restore data through a web interface — no command line required. Its standout feature is incremental backup support, which only backs up files that changed since the last snapshot, saving storage space and backup time compared to running a full backup every time.
JetBackup organizes backups into clear categories: Files (website files), Databases (MySQL), Email Accounts, and Email Forwarders/Filters — so you can restore just the piece you need instead of restoring an entire account every time.
How It Differs from Standard DirectAdmin Backup/Restore
DirectAdmin ships with a built-in Backup/Restore feature that bundles everything in an account into a single .tar.gz file — a solid option for a manual backup before a big change. JetBackup adds capabilities the standard feature doesn't have:
- Incremental backups — only backs up changed files, saving time and space.
- Multiple point-in-time snapshots — keeps a history of backups so you can restore from a specific date.
- Built-in file browser within backups — view and download individual files from an old backup without restoring everything.
- Remote storage destinations — send backups off-server via FTP, SFTP, or S3-compatible storage.
Accessing JetBackup in DirectAdmin
Log in to DirectAdmin and look for the JetBackup icon in your user panel — typically under Additional Features or Advanced Features, depending on the DirectAdmin theme your host has configured. Clicking in brings up a dashboard summarizing storage used by backups and the most recent snapshots automatically generated on your host's schedule.
Backing Up Website Files
Under the Files menu in JetBackup, click Create New Backup, select the directories or files you want (typically the whole public_html folder, or the entire account), give the backup a memorable name, and click Confirm. The system immediately begins compressing files and building a snapshot. The time required depends on site size — a typical site of a few hundred MB usually finishes in a few minutes.
Backing Up MySQL Databases
Under the Databases menu, select the database you want to back up; JetBackup exports it as a compressed .sql file. Back up your database more frequently than your files if your site's data changes constantly — for example, an e-commerce site receiving new orders every day — since database content changes faster than code files.
Backing Up Email Accounts
The Email Accounts menu in JetBackup backs up mailboxes and forwarder/filter settings separately from your site files. This is invaluable when migrating email to a new server or restoring a mailbox that was accidentally deleted, without touching your separately-stored website files or databases.
Setting Up Automatic Backup Schedules
On the admin side, JetBackup lets administrators configure automatic backup schedules at whatever frequency they need — daily, weekly, or monthly — along with a retention count to prevent disk space from filling up. Regular users without admin access will only see the results of the automatic backups the hosting provider has scheduled.
AsiaGB's policy: AsiaGB Hosting runs automated backups on the 1st and 15th of every month (twice monthly), retained for one year. Customers can use JetBackup to create additional manual backups at any time — for example, right before updating a plugin or making a major theme change.
How to Restore Data
Go to the Restore menu for the data category you need (Files/Databases/Email), select the snapshot from the date you want to restore, then choose whether to restore everything or just specific files/folders through the built-in file browser. Click Restore, and the system overwrites current data with the selected snapshot. Double-check that you've picked the correct date before confirming — restoring immediately overwrites whatever is currently live.
Connecting Remote Storage
For maximum safety, don't keep backups solely on the same server as your website — if the server suffers a serious failure, the backups could be lost along with it. On the admin side, JetBackup supports remote destination configuration, sending backups off to an external location such as another FTP server, SFTP, or S3-compatible object storage — spreading the risk in line with the 3-2-1 backup strategy (three copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy off-site).
How does JetBackup differ from DirectAdmin's standard Backup/Restore?
Standard backup creates a single .tar.gz containing everything at once, good for a general manual backup. JetBackup adds incremental backups, multiple point-in-time snapshots, a built-in file browser so you can view individual files without a full restore, and the ability to send backups to remote storage.
Will restoring with JetBackup wipe out my current data?
Any current data that overlaps with the selected snapshot gets overwritten immediately. Always double-check the snapshot date before clicking Restore, and back up your current data first if possible.
How often does AsiaGB Hosting run automatic backups?
AsiaGB runs automated backups on the 1st and 15th of every month (twice monthly), retained for one year. Customers can use JetBackup to create additional manual backups anytime during the month before making significant changes.
Can I back up just my database without backing up all my files?
Yes. JetBackup clearly separates Files, Databases, and Email Accounts, so you can back up or restore just the database without touching your site files or email.
What is an incremental backup and how is it different from a full backup?
An incremental backup only saves files that changed since the last backup, taking less time and space. A full backup saves everything fresh each time regardless of what changed, taking longer but standing complete on its own.
Is it necessary to store backups off the server as well?
Strongly recommended. If the primary server suffers a serious failure, such as hardware damage, backups stored on that same server could be lost too. Sending backups to remote storage like FTP or S3 spreads the risk in line with the 3-2-1 backup strategy.
Hosting with a Complete Backup System
AsiaGB DirectAdmin Hosting includes automated backups twice a month, plus full JetBackup support for creating additional manual backups anytime.
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