---
title: Docker application backup
description: How to backup a Docker application on Unraid
published: true
date: 2023-06-27T07:54:18.672Z
tags: linux, server, unraid, backup
editor: markdown
dateCreated: 2023-06-27T07:54:18.672Z
---

# Docker application backup

This guide will show you how to backup a Docker application on Unraid. _Tested on Unraid 6.12.1_

## Get Started

- Begin by installing the [User Scripts plugin](https://forums.unraid.net/topic/48286-plugin-ca-user-scripts/).
- Now we need to create the script. Go to `Settings > User Utilites > User Scripts` and click `Add New Script`.
- Give the script a name, for example `Backup Docker Application`.
- Paste the following into the script:

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# --- DO NOT TOUCH ---
now="$(date +"%Y-%m-%d"@%H.%M)"

# --- Variables ---

# The name of the application
applicationName="application_name"

# The name of the backup
backupName="backup-$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S)"

# Set the path to the application's data directory
applicationData="/mnt/user/appdata/application_name/"

# Set the path to the backup directory
# Example: /mnt/user/Storage/Backups/$applicationName/
backupDirectory=""

# Set Number backups to keep
backupsToKeep=30

# The user of your account
# Example: lee
user=""

# --- Backup Application ---

# Start notification
echo "Backup of $applicationName starting."
/usr/local/emhttp/plugins/dynamix/scripts/notify -s "$applicationName Backup" -d "Backup of $applicationName starting."

# Create backup directory
mkdir -p "$backupDirectory"

cd "$backupDirectory"

# Create the backup tarball
tar -cf "$applicationName-$now".tar "$applicationData"

# Set Permissions
chown "$user:$user" "$applicationName-$now".tar

# Cleanup old backups
for file in $(ls -t); do
  if [[ $count -ge $backupsToKeep ]]; then
    rm -- "$file"
    echo "Deleted old backup: $file"
  fi
  ((count++))
done

# Stop notification
echo "Backup of $applicationName completed!"
/usr/local/emhttp/plugins/dynamix/scripts/notify -s "$applicationName Backup" -d "Backup of $applicationName completed!"
```

- You can now test the script by clicking `Run Script`. If everything is working correctly, you should see a notification in the top right corner of the screen.

- Now we need to set the script to run on a schedule. Next to `Run In Background` you will see a dropdown menu. Select how often you want it to run and click `Apply`.

## Restore a backup

- Delete the application's data directory.
- Copy the backup to the application's data directory.
  Move the backup with the following command: (or via the Unraid web interface)

```bash
mv <backup_name>.tar /mnt/user/appdata/application_name/
```

- To restore a backup, simply extract the tarball and copy the files to the application's data directory.
  You can extract the tarball by running the following command:

```bash
tar -xvf <backup_name>.tar
```

This command will extract the tarball to the current directory.

## Finished

You have now successfully setup a backup script for your Docker application. You can view the backups in the directory you set in the script.