DreamHost Backup Software - Handy Backup
Handy Backup is a flexible DreamHost backup solution for creating independent copies of website files, MySQL databases, email, and data stored in DreamObjects. Automate DreamHost website backup tasks, choose your own storage destination, keep multiple backup versions, and restore the data you need when required. Unlike backups maintained only inside a hosting environment, Handy Backup lets you keep additional copies on local drives, NAS, remote servers, and cloud storage. This gives you more control over backup schedules, retention, storage location, and recovery.
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What Can You Back Up from DreamHost?
A complete DreamHost backup may include several separate types of data. Handy Backup can protect website files, MySQL databases, DreamObjects buckets, and hosted email using the connection method appropriate for each source.
Website Files
Back up HTML files, scripts, images, WordPress files, themes, plugins, uploads, configuration files, and other website content available through your DreamHost account. Handy Backup connects to the hosting server through SFTP and copies the selected directories to your chosen backup storage.
MySQL Databases
Protect posts, settings, customer records, application data, and other dynamic website content stored in MySQL. When remote database access is available, the dedicated MySQL plug-in can connect to the database directly and create structured backup copies for later recovery.
DreamObjects Storage
DreamObjects is DreamHost's S3-compatible object storage service. Handy Backup can work with compatible S3 storage as a data source or backup destination, allowing you to copy, restore, or synchronize data stored in buckets as part of a wider DreamHost backup strategy.
DreamHost Email
Handy Backup can also protect email hosted by DreamHost through IMAP. The Email plug-in connects directly to the mail server, copies selected mailbox folders, and saves messages in EML format. This option is useful when website and email data should be protected within the same backup environment.
Why Keep an Independent DreamHost Backup?
DreamHost provides backup and restore options for hosted data, but an independent backup adds another recovery layer under your control. It also lets you decide where copies are stored and how your long-term backup routine should work.
Separate Storage
Keep another copy outside the production hosting account. If website data becomes unavailable or a hosting restore point no longer contains the version you need, your independent backup remains available from the storage location you selected.
Your Own Retention
DreamHost hosting backups are intended mainly for short-term recovery rather than permanent archives. Handy Backup lets you keep multiple backup versions according to your own schedule and retention requirements instead of relying only on available hosting restore points.
Controlled Recovery
Restore data from the backup copy you manage yourself. Depending on the source, you can recover selected files, database content, cloud objects, or email instead of depending exclusively on the recovery workflow available inside the hosting account.
DreamHost Built-in Backup and Handy Backup Software
DreamHost already provides backup functionality, so Handy Backup is designed to complement rather than replace the hosting provider's recovery tools. The main difference is control: a third-party DreamHost backup solution lets you maintain another copy in storage selected and managed independently from the hosting account.
| Backup Feature | DreamHost Built-in Options | Handy Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Website file backup | Yes short-term hosting recovery is available | Yes independent backup through SFTP |
| MySQL database backup | Yes built-in and manual backup methods | Yes directly when remote database access is enabled |
| DreamHost email backup | Manual email can be copied using supported mail methods | Yes automatic IMAP backup to EML files |
| User-defined backup schedule | Limited depends on the hosting service | Yes |
| Long-term backup retention | No not included as a standard hosting backup feature | Yes controlled by your backup configuration and storage |
| Automatic copy outside DreamHost | Manual data can be exported or downloaded | Yes automatically to the selected destination |
| Local drive or NAS storage | Manual requires downloading data | Yes |
| DreamObjects integration | Separate Service DreamHost S3-compatible object storage | Yes can be used as a source or destination |
Note: DreamHost backup availability and restore functionality can vary by hosting service. DreamHost currently states that it keeps an average of about two weeks of website backups and five days of database backups, while long-term backups are not included with hosting plans. Keeping an independent copy provides an additional recovery option for data you consider important.
Choose Where to Store DreamHost Backups
A DreamHost website backup does not have to remain inside the same hosting environment. Handy Backup lets you select local, network, remote, or cloud storage according to your recovery and retention requirements.
Local and External Storage: save DreamHost backup copies to a PC drive, external HDD, SSD, USB storage, or other directly connected device.
NAS and Network Storage: keep website copies on shared folders, network drives, and NAS devices for centralized storage under your control.
Cloud and Remote Storage: use supported cloud services, Amazon S3 and compatible storage, FTP/SFTP/FTPS servers, and other available remote destinations.
Automatic DreamHost Website Backup via SFTP
Website files are one of the main components of a complete DreamHost backup. DreamHost website users connect to their hosting space through SFTP, allowing Handy Backup to retrieve selected site directories directly from the server over an encrypted connection.
Once the connection is configured, a DreamHost website backup task can run automatically according to the schedule you choose. You can protect an entire website directory or select only the folders required for a particular project.
This approach is suitable for static websites as well as file components of WordPress and other content management systems. For a complete dynamic website backup, protect the website files together with the corresponding database.
Important: Preserve the directories required by the website, including uploaded content and configuration files. Keeping the original folder structure makes it easier to restore the site to the same server or move its files to another compatible hosting environment.
Protect DreamHost MySQL Databases
Website files alone may not contain all of the information required to recover a dynamic site. WordPress and many other web applications keep posts, settings, user information, and other changing content in MySQL databases.
Direct MySQL Backup
When the DreamHost database is configured to allow remote access from the computer running Handy Backup, the MySQL plug-in can connect directly to the server and back up selected databases or tables. The resulting backup can then be stored with your other website data.
Backup an Exported Database
If direct database access is not available, export the MySQL database using the tools provided by the hosting environment and include the resulting SQL file in the regular website backup task. This still lets you maintain the database copy outside the hosting account.
DreamObjects Backup with S3-Compatible Storage
Back Up DreamObjects Data
DreamObjects uses an S3-compatible interface, so data stored in a DreamObjects bucket can be included in an automated backup workflow. Handy Backup can copy selected cloud data to another supported destination, helping maintain a separate version outside the original bucket.
Use DreamObjects as Storage
DreamObjects can also serve as a destination for other backup data. With an S3-compatible connection configured in Handy Backup, you can store copies of local files and other supported data in a DreamObjects bucket as part of a cloud or hybrid backup strategy.
Note: DreamObjects is a separate DreamHost object storage service rather than the same storage used for ordinary website hosting. The required S3 endpoint, region, access key, and secret key should be taken from the current DreamObjects account settings when creating a connection.
Include DreamHost Email in Your Backup Strategy
Web hosting data may extend beyond website files and databases. If you use email hosted by DreamHost, Handy Backup can connect directly to the mailbox through IMAP and automatically copy selected mail folders.
The Email plug-in stores individual messages in EML format, preserving them as separate email files that can be accessed with compatible applications. This makes DreamHost email backup useful for keeping an independent mailbox archive together with other business or website data.
For a large mailbox or several email accounts, create separate scheduled tasks according to the required backup frequency and storage destination. A dedicated page can provide more detailed instructions for configuring DreamHost email backup.
Recommended Solution
Lifetime license
Handy Backup Small Business
Handy Backup Small Business helps keep DreamHost data under your control. Back up website files, MySQL databases, email, and DreamObjects automatically, store copies outside the hosting account, and restore what you need when you need it
Automate DreamHost Backups
Scheduled Backup
Run DreamHost backup tasks automatically instead of downloading website data manually. Configure daily, weekly, monthly, or other schedules according to how frequently the protected website, database, cloud storage, or mailbox changes.
Backup Versions
Use full, incremental, or differential backup methods where appropriate and keep several versions instead of maintaining only the latest copy. Version history can provide additional recovery points after unwanted changes or data corruption.
Backup Protection
Configure compression and AES encryption when required by the backup scenario. SFTP provides encrypted transfer for DreamHost website files, while additional backup protection can be applied before copies are stored at the selected destination.
How to Create a DreamHost Website Backup with Handy Backup
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Create a backup task. Launch Handy Backup and create a new Backup task. Enable advanced mode if you need additional backup settings.
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Select SFTP as the website source. DreamHost website users connect to hosting space through SFTP, so create an SFTP connection for the site you want to protect.
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Enter your DreamHost connection settings. Specify the server, username, authentication information, and other parameters required for your hosting account.
Tip: DreamHost currently configures website users for SFTP on port 22. Use the current connection details from your own DreamHost account when creating the task.
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Select the website data. Choose the directories and files required for the site. Include configuration and uploaded-content folders when they are needed for recovery.
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Choose where to store the backup. Select a local drive, external storage, NAS, network folder, remote server, cloud service, or another supported destination.
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Configure automation. Set the required schedule, backup type, versioning, compression, encryption, and other task options.
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Finish the task. Run the DreamHost backup immediately or allow Handy Backup to execute it automatically according to your schedule.
Restore DreamHost Data When You Need It
Recover the Original Website
Create a restore task from an existing Handy Backup copy and return the required website data to its original location. You can restore selected files instead of replacing the entire site when only part of the hosted content needs to be recovered.
Restore to Another Location
A backup can also help when moving data to another compatible location. Restore files to a different server or storage path and recover supported database or cloud data to a new destination when the migration scenario requires it.
Note: A full website recovery may require both website files and the associated database. Make sure both components are included in your backup strategy before relying on the copy for disaster recovery or migration.
One Backup Solution for DreamHost and Other Data
Handy Backup is not limited to DreamHost. The same application can protect other websites, local files, databases, NAS storage, cloud accounts, and other supported data sources, allowing several backup workflows to be managed together.
This is useful when a website is only one part of the data that needs protection. Separate tasks can use different sources, schedules, storage destinations, backup methods, encryption settings, and retention policies while remaining available through the same backup software.
FAQ About DreamHost Backup Software
Does DreamHost already back up my website?
Yes. DreamHost provides hosting backup and restore options, although availability and retention depend on the type of data and hosting service. DreamHost currently states that it keeps an average of about two weeks of website backups and five days of database backups and that long-term backups are not included in hosting plans. Handy Backup can be used to maintain an additional independent copy with your own storage and backup schedule.
Can Handy Backup automatically back up a DreamHost website?
Yes. Handy Backup can connect to website files available through SFTP, copy the selected directories to another storage location, and run the task according to a schedule. A complete DreamHost website backup can also include the site's MySQL database when the required database access is available.
Why use third-party DreamHost backup software if hosting backups already exist?
An independent DreamHost backup solution gives you another copy outside the hosting backup system and more control over scheduling, storage location, version history, and retention. It can complement DreamHost's built-in recovery options rather than depending on only one source of backup copies.
Can I back up a WordPress website hosted on DreamHost?
Yes. A WordPress backup normally contains two main components: website files and the MySQL database. Handy Backup can protect the files through the supported hosting connection and can back up the MySQL database directly when remote database access is configured. Both components should be included for complete website recovery.
Can Handy Backup back up DreamHost email?
Yes. DreamHost supports IMAP access, and Handy Backup includes an Email plug-in for IMAP mailbox backup. It can copy selected email folders and save individual messages in EML format to a local, network, remote, or supported cloud destination. A separate DreamHost email backup page can provide detailed configuration instructions.
Can Handy Backup work with DreamObjects?
Yes. DreamObjects is an S3-compatible object storage service. Handy Backup can use an S3-compatible connection to work with supported object storage, allowing DreamObjects data to participate in backup, restore, and synchronization workflows and allowing a compatible bucket to serve as a backup destination.
Where can I store a DreamHost backup?
Handy Backup supports multiple storage destinations, including local and external drives, NAS devices, shared network folders, FTP/SFTP/FTPS servers, Amazon S3 and compatible object storage, and other supported cloud services. This makes it possible to keep at least one copy outside the DreamHost hosting environment.
Can I restore only one file from a DreamHost website backup?
Yes. When the required file is available in the backup set, Handy Backup can be used to restore selected data instead of recovering the entire website. This is useful after accidental file deletion, unwanted edits, or a failed website update that affects only part of the site.
Can I use Handy Backup with hosting providers other than DreamHost?
Yes. Handy Backup is not limited to DreamHost backup. Websites and other remote data can be protected from other providers when they are accessible through a protocol or data source supported by Handy Backup. Separate tasks can be created for several hosting accounts and managed from the same application.