I have experienced a disaster on my web server a few days ago. While trying to remove one of my dev databases, I removed the production database accidentally.
I was extremely lucky because I duplicated the production database to the local one to test a python script and I have all my web app’s content in the git, which you shouldn’t. Because it is not the best practice to put web application content under the version control system.
You shouldn’t risk this and must use a reliable backup strategy. I have a simple solution that I prefer to use. I’m using Dropbox for my applications’ contents and databases. Also, you may try to use Git for your application’s code.
About my backup strategy, you may find the steps below:
1. Install Dropbox Headless
cd ~ && wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86_64" | tar xzf -
~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
The second command will ask you to copy and paste a link into a browser to link your device to your account. After you activate your device, you can stop Dropbox by using CTRL + C key combination.
2. Restart Dropbox at the start
Run crontab -e and add the line below.
# Restart headless dropbox at start
@reboot ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
This cron job will start the Dropbox daemon every time you restart your server. Note that this job must be before all the backup jobs. After this, you have to restart your web server to start Dropbox.
3. Backup the database and the content folder
Run crontab -e and add the line below.
# Backup for your_app_name
0 */12* ** zip -rj /home/your_user_name/Dropbox/BACKUPS/your_app_name/$(date '+\%Y\%m\%d\%H\%M\%S')_content.zip /home/your_username/your_project_content/folder/
0 */12 * * * mysqldump -u 'your_db_username' -p'your_db_password' your_db_name > /home/your_user_name/Dropbox/BACKUPS/your_app_name/$(date '+\%Y\%m\%d\%H\%M\%S')_db.sql
You have to change the lines, such as your_X_variable according to you.