Backup Architecture in Plain Language

Published · Last updated: May 2026 · 3 min read

Who this is for

Anyone who wants to understand how CloudAIPilot's backup system works before setting it up.

Overview

CloudAIPilot's backup system runs directly on your servers via SSH. It does not route your data through CloudAIPilot's own infrastructure — backups go from your server to your chosen storage destination.

Backup Types

Type	What it backs up	Use for
`snapshot`	A point-in-time cloud provider disk snapshot	Fast full-server recovery; cloud provider charges may apply
`files`	The site or server's files (via rsync/tar)	Website files, app files, static assets
`database`	MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL database dump	Database-only backup; fast and lightweight
`full`	Files + database combined	Complete site backup for restore on any server

How Backups Run

CloudAIPilot SSH-es to your server as the cloudpilot user.
Runs the backup script (tar, mysqldump, or cloud snapshot API call).
Backup file is stored temporarily at /tmp/cloudpilot-backups// on the server.
Metadata (size, status, path) is recorded in CloudAIPilot.
Optionally, the backup is uploaded to a cloud storage vault (S3, GCS, Azure Blob, DigitalOcean Spaces).

Important: Local backups (stored at /tmp/...) are kept on the server. If the server is deleted, these backups are lost. Always configure offsite/cloud storage for important backups.

Backup Status Values

Status	Meaning
`pending`	Backup job queued, not yet started
`running`	Backup is actively running on the server
`completed`	Backup finished successfully
`failed`	Backup encountered an error

Offsite Backup Status Values

Status	Meaning
`null`	Backup has not been uploaded to cloud storage
`uploading`	Upload to cloud storage is in progress
`uploaded`	Successfully stored in cloud storage
`failed`	Upload to cloud storage failed

Manual vs Scheduled Backups

Manual (on-demand): triggered by you at any time — see KB-05-02: Create an On-Demand Backup.
Scheduled: run automatically on a cron schedule — see KB-05-03: Configure Backup Schedules.

Snapshot vs File/Database Backups

	Snapshot	Files/Database/Full
How it works	Cloud provider API creates a disk image	CloudAIPilot runs scripts on the server
Restore method	Restore via cloud provider console	Restore via CloudAIPilot (files/DB overwritten)
Downloadable	No	Yes (.tar.gz)
Cloud storage upload	No (stays in cloud provider)	Yes
Cost	Cloud provider charges per GB	No additional cost from CloudAIPilot
Speed to create	Fast (async snapshot)	Depends on data size

Backup Retention

Backups expire after the configured retention period (default: 30 days). Expired backups are automatically cleaned up. See KB-05-09: Retention Policy.