Automated Backups

Bar Galileo includes a comprehensive backup system using django-dbbackup with GPG encryption, ensuring your data is secure and recoverable. The backup module provides web-based management for creating, downloading, and restoring backups.

Backup System Overview

The system backs up two critical components:

Database Backups: Complete MySQL/MariaDB database snapshots
Media Backups: All uploaded files (receipts, product images, payment receipts, etc.)

All backups are encrypted with GPG for security. Store your GPG passphrase securely - without it, backups cannot be restored.

Configuration

Settings (settings.py)

Backup configuration from bar_galileo/settings.py:

STORAGES = {
    "dbbackup": {
        "BACKEND": "django.core.files.storage.FileSystemStorage",
        "OPTIONS": {
            "location": str(BASE_DIR / "backups" / "backup_files" / "db"),
        },
    },
    "mediabackup": {
        "BACKEND": "django.core.files.storage.FileSystemStorage",
        "OPTIONS": {
            "location": str(BASE_DIR / "backups" / "backup_files" / "media"),
        },
    },
}

DBBACKUP_STORAGE = 'dbbackup'
DBBACKUP_MEDIA_STORAGE = 'mediabackup'
DBBACKUP_MEDIA_PATH = MEDIA_ROOT
DBBACKUP_FILENAME_TEMPLATE = '{datetime}.psql'
DBBACKUP_MEDIA_FILENAME_TEMPLATE = '{datetime}.media.zip'
DBBACKUP_ENCRYPTION = True
DBBACKUP_GPG_RECIPIENT = '[email protected]'
DBBACKUP_CLEANUP_KEEP = 10
DBBACKUP_CLEANUP_KEEP_MEDIA = 10
DBBACKUP_COMPRESS = True
DBBACKUP_COMPRESSION_LEVEL = 6

File Structure

Backups are stored in:

bar_galileo/
└── backups/
    └── backup_files/
        ├── db/                    # Database backups
        │   └── 2025-10-20-212832.psql.gpg
        └── media/                 # Media backups
            └── 2025-10-20-213045.media.zip.gpg

GPG Encryption Setup

Initial Setup

Generate GPG Key

Create a GPG keypair for encryption:

gpg --full-generate-key

Choose RSA and RSA (default)
Key size: 4096 bits
Expiration: 3 years or custom
Name: Bar Galileo Backups
Email: [email protected]

Verify Key Creation

List keys to confirm:

gpg --list-keys

Look for the key with email [email protected]

Update Settings

Ensure DBBACKUP_GPG_RECIPIENT in settings.py matches the email used

Test Encryption

Create a test backup to verify GPG is working:

python manage.py dbbackup --encrypt

GPG key details: RSA 4096, expires 2028-10-19, ID: E83D59F6FA84D04B

Exporting the GPG Key

For backup recovery on another server:

# Export public key
gpg --export -a "[email protected]" > public.key

# Export private key (KEEP SECURE!)
gpg --export-secret-keys -a "[email protected]" > private.key

Store the private key in a secure location (password manager, encrypted drive). Without it, you cannot decrypt backups.

Creating Backups

Web Interface (Recommended)

Access Backup Module

Navigate to Backups > Backup List

Choose Backup Type

Click one of the action buttons:

Create Complete Backup: Database + Media
Create DB Backup: Database only
Create Media Backup: Media files only

Wait for Completion

The system processes the backup (may take 1-5 minutes)

Verify Creation

New backup appears in the list with filename, date, and size

Command Line

For manual or cron-based backups:

Database Backup

# Create encrypted database backup
python manage.py dbbackup --encrypt

# With cleanup (keep only 10 most recent)
python manage.py dbbackup --encrypt --clean

Media Backup

# Create encrypted media backup
python manage.py mediabackup --encrypt

# With cleanup
python manage.py mediabackup --encrypt --clean

Complete Backup (Custom Command)

# Database + Media in one command
python manage.py crear_backup_completo

# Database only
python manage.py crear_backup_completo --sin-media

# Media only
python manage.py crear_backup_completo --sin-db

The custom command crear_backup_completo handles both backup types and solves issues with django-dbbackup’s encryption in version 5.0.0.

Managing Backups

Viewing Backups

The backup list page shows:

Database Backups:
- Filename (format: YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS.psql.gpg)
- Creation date and time
- File size (KB/MB)
- Download button
- Delete button
Media Backups:
- Filename (format: YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS.media.zip.gpg)
- Creation date and time
- File size (MB)
- Download button
- Delete button
Statistics:
- Total DB backups count
- Total media backups count
- Total storage used (MB)

Downloading Backups

Navigate to Backup List

Go to Backups > Backup List

Select Backup

Find the backup you want to download

Click Download

Click the download icon/button for the backup

Save Securely

Store the downloaded file in a secure, off-site location

Downloaded backups are encrypted. You’ll need the GPG private key to decrypt them.

Deleting Old Backups

Review Backup List

Identify outdated backups to remove

Click Delete

Click the delete button for the backup

Confirm Deletion

Confirm in the dialog (this action cannot be undone)

Deleted backups cannot be recovered. Ensure you have off-site copies before deleting local backups.

Restoring Backups

Database Restore

Restoring a database backup overwrites all current data. Create a backup of the current state first!

Create Current Backup

Before restoring, backup current data:

python manage.py dbbackup --encrypt

Restore from Web Interface

Navigate to Backups > Backup List
Find the backup to restore
Click Restore button
Confirm the action

Alternative: Command Line

# Restore latest backup
python manage.py dbrestore

# Restore specific backup
python manage.py dbrestore --input-filename=2025-10-20-212832.psql.gpg

Restart Application

Restart Django server to clear cached connections

Verify Data

Media Restore

Stop Application

Stop the Django server to prevent file conflicts

Restore from Web Interface

Navigate to Backups > Backup List
Find the media backup to restore
Click Restore button
Confirm the action

Alternative: Command Line

# Restore latest media backup
python manage.py mediarestore

# Restore specific backup
python manage.py mediarestore --input-filename=2025-10-20-213045.media.zip.gpg

Restart Application

Start the Django server

Verify Files

Check that uploaded files (receipts, images) are accessible

Permissions

The backup module requires these permissions:

backups.ver: View backup list and statistics
backups.crear: Create new backups
backups.editar: Restore backups (modifies system)
backups.eliminar: Delete backup files

Assign backup permissions carefully. These operations affect system integrity and should be restricted to administrators.

Automation with Cron

Setting Up Automated Backups

Create a cron job for daily backups:

# Edit crontab
crontab -e

# Add daily backup at 2 AM
0 2 * * * cd /path/to/bar_galileo && /path/to/python manage.py crear_backup_completo >> /var/log/bar_galileo_backup.log 2>&1

# Add weekly cleanup at 3 AM on Sundays
0 3 * * 0 cd /path/to/bar_galileo && /path/to/python manage.py dbbackup --clean && /path/to/python manage.py mediabackup --clean

Adjust paths and timing based on your server configuration and business hours (schedule during low-traffic periods).

Best Practices

3-2-1 Backup Rule

Maintain:

3 copies of data (production + 2 backups)
2 different storage types (local + cloud)
1 off-site backup (cloud, remote server, or physical location)

Test Restores Regularly

Perform quarterly restore tests on a staging environment to verify backup integrity and restore procedures.

Monitor Backup Size

Track backup file sizes over time. Sudden increases may indicate data issues or excessive growth.

Automate Everything

Use cron jobs for consistent, hands-off backup creation. Manual backups are easily forgotten.

Secure GPG Keys

Store GPG private key in multiple secure locations (password manager, encrypted USB, safe deposit box).

Document Restore Process

Maintain step-by-step restore documentation for disaster recovery scenarios.

Troubleshooting

GPG Encryption Error

Symptom: Backup fails with GPG-related errorSolution:

Verify GPG key exists: gpg --list-keys
Ensure email matches DBBACKUP_GPG_RECIPIENT
Test GPG encryption: echo "test" | gpg -e -r [email protected]

Backup Directory Not Writable

Symptom: Permission denied when creating backupSolution:

# Grant write permissions
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /path/to/bar_galileo/backups/
sudo chmod -R 755 /path/to/bar_galileo/backups/

Restore Fails with Database Lock

Symptom: Cannot restore database - locked by active connectionsSolution:

Stop Django server
Close all database connections
Run restore command
Restart server

Media Backup Very Large

Symptom: Media backup exceeds expected sizeSolution:

Check for old/unused files in MEDIA_ROOT
Consider excluding temporary files from backup
Use compression level 9 for maximum compression

Cannot Decrypt Backup

Symptom: GPG decryption fails during restoreSolution:

Verify GPG private key is imported: gpg --list-secret-keys
If not, import: gpg --import private.key
Ensure passphrase is correct
Check key hasn’t expired

Backup Statistics API

The backup module provides a JSON API for statistics:

Endpoint

GET /backups/stats/

Response Format

{
  "total_backups": 15,
  "db_backups": {
    "cantidad": 10,
    "tamanio_total_mb": 45.32,
    "tamanio_promedio_kb": 4638.72,
    "ultimo_backup": "2025-10-20-212832.psql.gpg",
    "ultima_fecha": "2025-10-20T21:28:32"
  },
  "media_backups": {
    "cantidad": 5,
    "tamanio_total_mb": 128.45,
    "tamanio_promedio_mb": 25.69,
    "ultimo_backup": "2025-10-20-213045.media.zip.gpg",
    "ultima_fecha": "2025-10-20T21:30:45"
  },
  "total_size_mb": 173.77
}

Use this API endpoint for monitoring dashboards or alerting systems.

File Upload Feature

The backup module supports uploading backup files:

Navigate to Backup List

Go to Backups > Backup List

Click Upload

Find the Upload Backup button

Select File

Choose a .psql.gpg or .media.zip.gpg file from your computer

Upload

Click Upload - file is validated and stored

Only upload backups with correct extensions (.psql.gpg or .media.zip.gpg). Files must be GPG-encrypted.

Next Steps: Learn about Reports & Analytics or explore Advanced Features.

Get Started

Core Features

Operations

Advanced

Backup System Overview

Configuration

Settings (settings.py)

File Structure

GPG Encryption Setup

Initial Setup

Exporting the GPG Key

Creating Backups

Web Interface (Recommended)

Command Line

Managing Backups

Viewing Backups

Downloading Backups

Deleting Old Backups

Restoring Backups

Database Restore

Media Restore

Permissions

Automation with Cron

Setting Up Automated Backups

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Backup Statistics API

Endpoint

Response Format

File Upload Feature

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Features

Operations

Advanced

​Backup System Overview

​Configuration

​Settings (settings.py)

​File Structure

​GPG Encryption Setup

​Initial Setup

​Exporting the GPG Key

​Creating Backups

​Web Interface (Recommended)

​Command Line

​Managing Backups

​Viewing Backups

​Downloading Backups

​Deleting Old Backups

​Restoring Backups

​Database Restore

​Media Restore

​Permissions

​Automation with Cron

​Setting Up Automated Backups

​Best Practices

​Troubleshooting

​Backup Statistics API

​Endpoint

​Response Format

​File Upload Feature

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Backup System Overview

Configuration

Settings (settings.py)

File Structure

GPG Encryption Setup

Initial Setup

Exporting the GPG Key

Creating Backups

Web Interface (Recommended)

Command Line

Managing Backups

Viewing Backups

Downloading Backups

Deleting Old Backups

Restoring Backups

Database Restore

Media Restore

Permissions

Automation with Cron

Setting Up Automated Backups

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Backup Statistics API

Endpoint

Response Format

File Upload Feature