Check Backup Dates Using SSH on VPS or Dedicated Server

Need to check when your last server backup was? It's easy to do right from your computer. This guide will show you how to check backup dates using SSH on your VPS or dedicated server. You'll have all the info you need in just a few minutes.

Click on any of the sections to jump to that point in the guide.

• What You Need
• Login through SSH
• Getting the Backup File Date

What You Need

• The password for the root user on your server.
• An SSH client like Terminal (Mac, Linux) or Putty (Windows).
• A domain name that points to your server or your server's IP address.

Login through SSH

These instructions require knowing the root password for your server. If you don't know the root password or haven't set one up, please see Log in to WHM.

Using Terminal (Mac, Linux)

1. Open Terminal
2. Type the following command to log into your server through SSH:
   ssh [email protected]
   Note: Replace exampledomain.com with your domain or IP address.
3. If you receive a message about the authenticity of the host, type yes to continue connecting.
4. When it asks for your password, enter the root password to your server.

   Note: It's normal not to see anything change on the screen as you enter your password.

Using Putty (Windows)

To make an SSH connection on Windows, you must have a compatible SSH client such as putty. You can download putty from http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html.

1. Open Putty
2. Enter your domain or IP address as the hostname.
3. Enter 22 for the port number.
4. The protocol should be set to SSH.
5. Click the Open button.
6. If you receive a message about the authenticity of the host, type yes to continue connecting.
7. When it asks for the username, type:
   root
8. When it asks for the password, enter the password for the root user Note: It's normal not to see anything on the screen change as you enter your password.

Getting the Backup File Date

1. Once you are logged into SSH as the root user, enter the following command to output the backup dates:
   ls -Al /backup/cpbackup
2. The output will vary but should look like the following:
   

The date and time of the backup are listed right in front of the backup name.

Summary

And that's it! You now know how to check backup dates using SSH. Regularly verifying your backups is crucial for peace of mind and quick recovery in case of any issues. Stay safe and keep your data secure!