Which paths should I back up?

Datashelter performs file-level backups, meaning you choose exactly which directories and files should be protected. The goal is typically to back up application data and system configurations that would be required to restore your services after an incident.

The exact paths depend on your operating system and application stack, but some common locations include:

/etc — System and application configuration files
/home — User data and personal files
/var/www — Website files and web application code

Depending on your setup, you may also want to back up directories containing application data, such as /var/lib.

What should not usually be backed up

With file-level backups, it is generally unnecessary to back up temporary or reproducible data, such as:

cache directories
temporary files
system logs
application dependencies that can be reinstalled

Excluding these paths helps reduce backup size and improve efficiency.