gotosocial/docs/admin/backup_and_restore.md

# Backup and Restore

In certain conditions, it may be desirable to be able to back up a GoToSocial instance, and then to restore it again later, or just save the backup somewhere.

Some potential scenarios:

* You want to close down your instance but you might create it again later and you don't want to break federation.
* You need to migrate to a different database for some reason (Postgres => SQLite or vice versa).
* You want to keep regular backups of your data just in case something happens.
* You want to migrate from GoToSocial to a different Fediverse server, or from a different Fediverse server to GoToSocial.
* You're about to hack around on your instance and you want to make a quick backup so you don't lose everything if you mess up.

There are a few different ways of doing this, most of which require some technical knowledge.

## Image your disk

If you're running GoToSocial on a VPS (a remote machine in the cloud), arguably the easiest way to preserve all of your database entries and media is to image the disk attached to the VPS. This will preserve the whole disk. Many VPS providers offer the option of automatically creating backups on a timer, so you'll always be able to restore if your data is lost.

Advantages:

* Relatively easy to do.
* Easy to automate (depending on your vps).
* Keep complete media + database entries.

Disadvantages:

* Can cost extra depending on your VPS.
* Will probably also preserve stuff you don't need, from other programs running on the same machine.
* Vendor lock-in, difficult to move the data around.

## Back up your database files

Regardless of whether you're using Postgres or SQLite as your GoToSocial database, it's possible to simply back up the database files directly by using something like [rclone](https://rclone.org/), or following best practices for [backing up Postgres data](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.1/backup.html) or [SQLite data](https://sqlite.org/backup.html).

Advantages:

* Backups are relatively portable - you can move data from one machine to another.
* Well-documented procedure with a lot of guides and tooling available.
* Lots of different ways of doing your backups, depending on what you need.

Disadvantages:

* Can be a bit fiddly to set up initially.
* You need to figure out where to keep your backups.
* Restoring from backups can be a pain.
* Unless you back up media as well, references to media attachments in your db will be broken.

## Use the GoToSocial CLI

The GoToSocial CLI tool also provides commands for backing up and restoring data from your instance, which will preserve the *bare-minimum* necessary data to backup and restore your instance, without breaking federation with other instances.

What will be **kept**:

* All local account entries, including private and public keys.
* Followed/following remote accounts, including public keys.
* Follows/follow requests.
* Domain blocks.
* Account blocks.
* Account suspensions.
* User + password entries, email addresses.

What will be **dropped**:

* All statuses.
* Media.
* Faves.
* Bookmarks.
* Pins.
* Applications.
* Tokens.

The backup file produced will be in the form of a line-separated series of JSON objects (not a JSON array!). For example:

```json
{"type":"account","id":"01F8MH5NBDF2MV7CTC4Q5128HF","createdAt":"2021-08-31T12:00:53.985645Z","username":"1happyturtle","locked":true,"language":"en","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle","url":"http://localhost:8080/@1happyturtle","inboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle/inbox","outboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle/outbox","followingUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle/following","followersUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle/followers","featuredCollectionUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle/collections/featured","actorType":"Person","privateKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\nq/ambaQykER6dwlXTIlU20uXY0bttOL/iYjKmgo3vA66qfzS6nsg\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n","publicKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBCgKCAQEAzLP7oyyR+BU9ejn0CN9K+WpX3L37pxUcCgZAGH5lf3cGPZjzausf\nsFME94OjVyzw3K5M2beDkZ4E+Fak46NLtakLB1yovy9jKtj4Y4txHoMvRJLzeUPx\ndfeXtpx2d3FDj++Uq4DEE0BhbePXhTGJWaNdC9MQmWKghJnCS5mrnFkdpEFxjUz9\nl0UHl2Z4wppxPdpt7FyevcdfKqzGsAA3BxTM0dg47ZJWjtcvfCiSYpAKFNJYfKhK\nn9T3ezZgrLsF+o0IpD23KxWe1X4d5lgJRU9T4FmLmbvyJKUnfgYXbSEvLUcq79Wb\nhgRcWwxWubjmWXgPGwzULVhhpYlwd2Cv3wIDAQAB\n-----END RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\n","publicKeyUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle#main-key"}
{"type":"account","id":"01F8MH0BBE4FHXPH513MBVFHB0","createdAt":"2021-09-08T10:00:53.985634Z","username":"weed_lord420","locked":true,"language":"en","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420","url":"http://localhost:8080/@weed_lord420","inboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420/inbox","outboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420/outbox","followingUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420/following","followersUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420/followers","featuredCollectionUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420/collections/featured","actorType":"Person","privateKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\n9mIhp8uXPxzC5N7tRQfb3/eU1IUcb6T6ksbr2P81z0j03J55erg=\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n","publicKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBCgKCAQEAzsCcTHzwIgpWKVvut0Q/t1bFwnbj9hO6Ic6k0KXCXbf6qi0bMIyL\nRZr8DS61mD+SPSO2QKEL647xxyW2D8YGtwN6Cc6MpWETsWJkNtS8t7tDL//PceYp\no5LiqKgn0TXj0Pq8Lvb7rqpH8QJ2EVm14SK+elhKZW/Bi5ZOEwfL8pw6EHI4us6V\nxCNQ099dksu++kbdD7zxqEKnk/4zOttYt0whlVrxzkibTjlKdlSlTYpIstU+fNyY\nVE0xWvrn+yF7jVlEwZYOFGfZbpELadrdOr2k1hvAk7upkrpKmLqYfwqD/xPcqwtx\n0iS6AEnmkSiTcAvju5vLkoLFRU7Of4AZ2wIDAQAB\n-----END RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\n","publicKeyUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/weed_lord420#main-key"}
{"type":"account","id":"01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF","createdAt":"2021-09-05T10:00:53.985641Z","username":"admin","locked":true,"language":"en","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin","url":"http://localhost:8080/@admin","inboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/inbox","outboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/outbox","followingUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/following","followersUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/followers","featuredCollectionUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/collections/featured","actorType":"Person","privateKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\nZzvjOgZWng5icuRLQQiDSKG5uqazqL/xGXkijb4kp4WW6myWY3c=\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n","publicKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBCgKCAQEAxr2e1pqfLwwUCwHUdx56Mxnq5Kzc2EBwqN6jIPjiqVaG5eVqhujD\nhdqwMq0hnpBSPzLnvjiOtEh7Bwhx0MjuC/GRPTM9oNWPYD4PcjX5ofrubyLRBI97\nqD0SbyzUWzeyBi6R5tpW8LK1MJXNbnYlz5WouEiC4mY77ulri0EN2hCq80wgfvtE\njEvELcKBqIytKH3rutIzfAyqXD7LSQ8UDoNh9GHyIfq8Zj32gWVk2MiPI3+G8kQJ\nDmD8CKEasnrGVdSJBQUg3xDAtOibPXLP+07AIsKYMon35hVNvQNQPS7ru/BkRhhG\np2R44zqj6L9mxYbSrhFAaKDedu8oVe1aLQIDAQAB\n-----END RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\n","publicKeyUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin#main-key"}
{"type":"account","id":"01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF","createdAt":"2021-09-06T10:00:53.985643Z","username":"the_mighty_zork","locked":true,"language":"en","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork","url":"http://localhost:8080/@the_mighty_zork","inboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/inbox","outboxURI":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox","followingUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/following","followersUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/followers","featuredCollectionUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/collections/featured","actorType":"Person","privateKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\niWhU4QrC/M4ELxYZinlNu3ThPWNQ/PMNteVWfdgOcV7uUWl0ViFp\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\n","publicKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBCgKCAQEApBmF8U+or+E0mgUMH3LE4uRIWzeV9rhYnvSMm9OpOsxwJiss5mEA\n/NtPHvQlq2UwrqXX89Wvu94K9EzZ4VyWYQGdxaiPpt17vRqUfsHUnXkY0pvCC9zt\n/aNlJtdt2xm+7PTC0YQd4+E1FX3aaoUPJL8MXzNlpJzaUtuwLZe1iBmFfatZFHpt\nEgc4nlf6TNLTzj3Yw1/7zIGVS8Vi7VquHc0Xo8dRiL2RxCGzLWnwL6GlrxY1tMhs\nUg467XeoiwegFCpcIhAhPFREKoTnCEksL/N0rpXl7m6CAy5uqBGs5mMXnXlqefr5\n8l0j2dU6zc60LCHH9TJC+roXsKJhy9sx/QIDAQAB\n-----END RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\n","publicKeyUri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork#main-key"}
{"type":"block","id":"01FEXXET6XXMF7G2V3ASZP3YQW","createdAt":"2021-09-08T09:00:53.965362Z","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/1happyturtle/blocks/01FEXXET6XXMF7G2V3ASZP3YQW","accountId":"01F8MH5NBDF2MV7CTC4Q5128HF","targetAccountId":"01F8MH5ZK5VRH73AKHQM6Y9VNX"}
{"type":"account","id":"01F8MH5ZK5VRH73AKHQM6Y9VNX","createdAt":"2021-08-31T12:00:53.985646Z","username":"foss_satan","domain":"fossbros-anonymous.io","locked":true,"language":"en","uri":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan","url":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/@foss_satan","inboxURI":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan/inbox","outboxURI":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan/outbox","followingUri":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan/following","followersUri":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan/followers","featuredCollectionUri":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan/collections/featured","actorType":"Person","publicKey":"-----BEGIN RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBCgKCAQEA2OyVgkaIL9VohXKYTh319j4OouHRX/8QC7piXj71k7q5RDzEyvis\nVZBc5/C1/crCpxt895i0Ai2CiXQx+dISV7s/JBhAGl8s7TQ8jLlMuptrI0+sdkBC\nlu8pU0qQmoeXVnlquOzNmqGufUxIDtLXLZDN17qf/7vWA23q4d0tG5KQhGGGKiVM\n61Ufvr9MmgPBSpyUvYMAulFlz1264L49aGWeVgOz3qUQzqtxjrP0kaIbeyt56miP\nKr5AqkRgSsXci+FAo6suxR5gzo9NgleNkbZWF9MQyKlawukPwZUDSh396vtNQMee\n/4mto7mAXw8iio0IacrYO3F7iyewXnmI/QIDAQAB\n-----END RSA PUBLIC KEY-----\n","publicKeyUri":"http://fossbros-anonymous.io/users/foss_satan/main-key"}
{"type":"follow","id":"01F8PYDCE8XE23GRE5DPZJDZDP","createdAt":"2021-09-08T09:00:54.749465Z","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/follow/01F8PYDCE8XE23GRE5DPZJDZDP","accountId":"01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF","targetAccountId":"01F8MH5NBDF2MV7CTC4Q5128HF"}
{"type":"follow","id":"01F8PY8RHWRQZV038T4E8T9YK8","createdAt":"2021-09-06T12:00:54.749459Z","uri":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/follow/01F8PY8RHWRQZV038T4E8T9YK8","accountId":"01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF","targetAccountId":"01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF"}
{"type":"domainBlock","id":"01FF22EQM7X8E3RX1XGPN7S87D","createdAt":"2021-09-08T10:00:53.968971Z","domain":"replyguys.com","createdByAccountID":"01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF","privateComment":"i blocked this domain because they keep replying with pushy + unwarranted linux advice","publicComment":"reply-guying to tech posts","obfuscate":false}
{"type":"user","id":"01F8MGYG9E893WRHW0TAEXR8GJ","createdAt":"2021-09-08T10:00:53.97247Z","accountID":"01F8MH0BBE4FHXPH513MBVFHB0","encryptedPassword":"$2y$10$ggWz5QWwnx6kzb9g0tnIJurFtE0dhr5Zfeaqs9iFuUIXzafQlJVZS","locale":"en","lastEmailedAt":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","confirmationToken":"a5a280bd-34be-44a3-8330-a57eaf61b8dd","confirmationTokenSentAt":"2021-09-08T10:00:53.972472Z","unconfirmedEmail":"weed_lord420@example.org","moderator":false,"admin":false,"disabled":false,"approved":false}
{"type":"user","id":"01F8MGWYWKVKS3VS8DV1AMYPGE","createdAt":"2021-09-05T10:00:53.972475Z","email":"admin@example.org","accountID":"01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF","encryptedPassword":"$2y$10$ggWz5QWwnx6kzb9g0tnIJurFtE0dhr5Zfeaqs9iFuUIXzafQlJVZS","currentSignInAt":"2021-09-08T09:50:53.972477Z","lastSignInAt":"2021-09-08T08:00:53.972477Z","chosenLanguages":["en"],"locale":"en","lastEmailedAt":"2021-09-08T09:30:53.972478Z","confirmedAt":"2021-09-05T10:00:53.972478Z","moderator":true,"admin":true,"disabled":false,"approved":true}
{"type":"user","id":"01F8MGVGPHQ2D3P3X0454H54Z5","createdAt":"2021-09-06T22:00:53.97248Z","email":"zork@example.org","accountID":"01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF","encryptedPassword":"$2y$10$ggWz5QWwnx6kzb9g0tnIJurFtE0dhr5Zfeaqs9iFuUIXzafQlJVZS","currentSignInAt":"2021-09-08T09:30:53.972481Z","lastSignInAt":"2021-09-08T08:00:53.972481Z","chosenLanguages":["en"],"locale":"en","lastEmailedAt":"2021-09-08T09:05:53.972482Z","confirmationTokenSentAt":"2021-09-06T22:00:53.972483Z","confirmedAt":"2021-09-07T00:00:53.972482Z","moderator":false,"admin":false,"disabled":false,"approved":true}
{"type":"user","id":"01F8MH1VYJAE00TVVGMM5JNJ8X","createdAt":"2021-09-06T22:00:53.972485Z","email":"tortle.dude@example.org","accountID":"01F8MH5NBDF2MV7CTC4Q5128HF","encryptedPassword":"$2y$10$ggWz5QWwnx6kzb9g0tnIJurFtE0dhr5Zfeaqs9iFuUIXzafQlJVZS","currentSignInAt":"2021-09-08T09:30:53.972485Z","lastSignInAt":"2021-09-08T08:00:53.972486Z","chosenLanguages":["en"],"locale":"en","lastEmailedAt":"2021-09-08T09:05:53.972487Z","confirmationTokenSentAt":"2021-09-06T22:00:53.972487Z","confirmedAt":"2021-09-07T00:00:53.972487Z","moderator":false,"admin":false,"disabled":false,"approved":true}
{"type":"instance","id":"01BZDDRPAB8J645ABY31HHF68Y","createdAt":"2021-09-08T10:00:54.763912Z","domain":"localhost:8080","title":"localhost:8080","uri":"http://localhost:8080","reputation":0}
```

For information on how to use the commands to import/export, see [here](cli.md#gotosocial-admin-export).

Advantages:

* Database agnostic: exported data is in a somewhat generic format, and the `import` command can be used to insert this data into either a Postgres or an SQLite database.
* Lightweight: only what is needed is preserved, so backup files can be quite small (even small enough to send in an email). Backup/import commands just take a few seconds to run.
* Easily readable format: the output is just JSON.

Disadvantages:

* Loss of statuses/media/etc: don't do a backup/restore this way unless you're willing to drop stuff.
* You need to use the GtS CLI tool to insert data back into a database, unless you write custom tooling for it.