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Backup and Export

What is Backup and Export?​

UnderControl's backup system protects your data by creating compressed copies of your database that are stored securely in the cloud. You can trigger backups manually or let them run automatically on a schedule. When you need your data, download a backup anytime.

信息

The backup system works with SQLite deployments only. If you're using PostgreSQL, use PostgreSQL's native backup tools (pg_dump, etc.) instead.

Main Features​

Manual Backups​

Trigger a backup anytime you want a snapshot of your data:

  1. Go to the backup management page (admin panel)
  2. Click Trigger Backup
  3. Optionally set a custom filename
  4. The backup starts immediately in the background
  5. Download it when it's ready

Scheduled Backups​

Set up automatic daily backups so you never have to think about it:

  • Default schedule - Daily at midnight
  • Configurable - Change the schedule using cron expressions
  • Retention - Old backups are automatically cleaned up after a set number of days (default: 30 days)

Backup History​

See all your backups in one place:

  • Status - Pending, running, completed, or failed
  • File size - How large each backup is
  • Duration - How long the backup took to process
  • Download - Get a secure download link for any completed backup

Backup Downloads​

Completed backups are available for download via secure, time-limited links:

  • Links expire after 1 hour for security
  • Files are downloaded as ZIP archives containing your SQLite database files
  • Generate a new download link anytime for completed backups

How Backups Work​

When you trigger a backup (manually or via schedule):

  1. Queued - The backup job is created and queued for processing
  2. Processing - A background worker finds all SQLite database files, creates a ZIP archive
  3. Uploaded - The ZIP file is uploaded to secure S3 storage
  4. Complete - The backup is ready for download

The entire process happens in the background - you get an instant response and can continue working while the backup runs.

What Gets Backed Up​

The backup system creates a ZIP archive of all SQLite database files in your data directory. This includes:

  • Your main application database
  • All user data, tasks, expenses, budgets, and accounts

The backup file is named data-backup-{timestamp}.zip by default, or you can specify a custom name.

Backup Statistics​

The system tracks helpful statistics:

  • Total backups created
  • Success rate of backup jobs
  • Average duration per backup
  • Total data backed up over time

Data Export​

Account Data Export​

Export your account data for external use or record-keeping. The export generates a downloadable file with your account information.

Task Export (Coming Soon)​

A planned feature for exporting tasks as structured packages including:

  • Task details in markdown format
  • Associated notes
  • Attached resources and files

Configuration​

Backup settings are configured through environment variables or the admin panel:

SettingDefaultDescription
Backup enabledfalseEnable or disable scheduled backups
Schedule0 0 * * *Cron expression (default: daily at midnight)
Retention days30How long to keep backup records
Data path./dataDirectory containing SQLite files

Tips for Success​

  1. Enable scheduled backups - Set up automatic daily backups so your data is always protected

  2. Download periodically - Keep a local copy of your backups in addition to cloud storage

  3. Monitor backup status - Check the backup history occasionally to make sure scheduled backups are completing successfully

  4. Set appropriate retention - 30 days is a good default, but adjust based on your needs and storage capacity

  5. Test your backups - Periodically download a backup and verify the contents to make sure everything is working correctly

How Backups Work with Other Features​

With the Queue System​

Backups are processed as background queue tasks, so they don't slow down your regular usage of the application.

With Resource Storage​

Backup files are stored using the same secure S3 storage system as your uploaded resources, with presigned URLs for secure downloads.

With Notifications​

You'll receive a notification when a backup completes or fails, so you always know the status.

Getting Started​

  1. Check your deployment - Make sure you're running SQLite (not PostgreSQL)
  2. Enable scheduled backups - Turn on automatic backups in the admin system configuration
  3. Trigger a manual backup - Create your first backup to verify everything works
  4. Download and verify - Download the backup ZIP and confirm it contains your data