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How do I set up a cron job to automate backups on a VPS?

Asked on Oct 27, 2025

Answer

To set up a cron job for automating backups on a VPS, you'll need to define a schedule and specify the backup command in the crontab file. This allows you to run scripts or commands at regular intervals.


    # Open the crontab editor
    crontab -e

    # Add the following line to schedule a daily backup at 2 AM
    0 2 * * * /usr/bin/backup-script.sh

Additional Comment:

Ensure the backup script "/usr/bin/backup-script.sh" is executable and correctly configured to perform the desired backup tasks.
Use absolute paths in your script to avoid path issues during execution.
Test your backup script manually before scheduling it with cron to ensure it works as expected.
Consider logging the output of your cron job to a file for troubleshooting purposes.
Adjust the cron timing as needed to fit your backup schedule requirements.

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Ask any question about Web Hosting here... and get an instant response.

How do I set up a cron job to automate backups on a VPS?

Asked on Oct 27, 2025

Answer

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