Rehearse a complete site restore

Access needed: Server, database, storage, and backup access.

Start with a separate recovery environment. Restoring changes its database and files and makes the destination unavailable; identify that destination before running a restore command.

1. Obtain the selected backup, its encryption credentials if needed, matching code, and required configuration and external media copies.
2. Isolate the destination from public traffic and production integrations. Set controlled test-email delivery before enabling workflows.
3. Use the installation's supported restore procedure. For a local backup known to mod_backup, use bin/zotonic backup garden restore BACKUP_NAME, replacing both placeholders appropriately.
4. Read the confirmation prompts, including whether configuration and security files will be restored. Check their effect on database hosts, domains, and credentials.
5. Inspect completion logs and the resulting data; the command's exit status alone is not sufficient.
6. Verify an older page, a recent page, an original media file and preview, login, and one representative workflow.
7. Record the recovery point, time taken, missing items, and changes needed to the backup plan.

backup download also restores and requires the backup environment. It is not a harmless way to fetch a copy. Read the command reference before choosing it.

Keep recovery testing isolated until copied schedules, email settings, and external service connections have been reviewed.

Verify backups by restoring them

Define what must be recovered: database, original media, configuration, and security material. Check which parts the selected backup includes before depending on it.

Use an isolated destination to restore a backup and verify a page, a media file, and a login or other essential operation. Record the backup's age and the time required to restore it.

The backup download command downloads and restores the newest backup; it is not a read-only download. Read the command reference before using restore operations and confirm the destination site.