RECOVERY PLAYBOOKS

Backup guides for the data that matters

Concrete file locations, failure modes, and recovery practices for Windows systems, servers, databases, application data, and important files.

ARK: Survival Ascended Server Rollbacks: A Complete Guide

Managing an ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA) server is a complex task. Between aggressive dinosaur spawns, massive player bases, and the occasional game-breaking bug or map glitch, server administrators frequently find thems…

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Backing Up CS2 Server Configs and Workshop Maps

Running a competitive Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) server involves far more than just launching the game engine. A perfectly tuned CS2 server relies on a complex web of configuration files, custom plugins, tickrate optimizatio…

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Backing Up Heavy Minecraft Modpack Servers Efficiently

Running a heavily modded Minecraft server—such as those featuring massive CurseForge modpacks like All The Mods or GregTech: New Horizons—is an exercise in managing extreme resource consumption. These servers load hundre…

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Enshrouded Dedicated Server Saves: Backup Automation

Enshrouded brings a highly detailed, voxel-based building system to the multiplayer survival RPG genre. Because every single block of dirt, stone, and wood can be altered, removed, or placed by players, the server must m…

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How SaveState Uses Native MySQL Dumping for Client-Side Encrypted Backups

MySQL and MariaDB have an awkward backup boundary: the files are visible to ordinary backup software, but a live copy of the data directory is not automatically a logically consistent database backup. Asking every custom…

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How to Back Up and Restore MySQL or MariaDB Safely

A database backup must represent a consistent database state. Copying a live MySQL or MariaDB data directory as ordinary files—even through a stable Windows volume snapshot—does not by itself guarantee a recovery point t…

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How to Backup a Rust Server and Prevent Data Loss During Wipes

Running a successful Rust server requires careful management of wipe cycles and player data. Whether you are running a vanilla server or a highly modded 1000x battlefield, server administrators must ensure that crucial c…

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Managing DayZ Server Wipes and Persistence Data Backups

DayZ server administration requires a delicate balance between maintaining high server performance and preserving player progress. The heart of a DayZ server's state is its persistence data—the system that tracks every b…

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Palworld Dedicated Server Backups: Protecting Player Progress

Palworld exploded onto the scene, bringing millions of players into its unique blend of survival crafting and creature collection. For server administrators, hosting a Palworld dedicated server quickly revealed a signifi…

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The Ultimate Guide to Game Server Backups: Deduplication & Save File Structures

Running a robust game server network requires more than just high clock speeds and good bandwidth; it requires an intricate understanding of how games handle persistent data. A backup strategy that works perfectly for a …

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Unturned Server Data Management and Backup Automation

Unturned remains a staple in the multiplayer survival genre, offering extensive base-building, intense PvP, and a massive ecosystem of workshop mods. Managing a dedicated Unturned server, especially a popular one with pl…

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Where Are Minecraft Server Saves Located? (Plus: How to Automate & Deduplicate Backups)

Running a Minecraft server requires diligent data management. One of the most fundamental skills for any server administrator is understanding where and how your world data is stored. Whether you are running a sprawling …

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Windows Server Cloud Backup: Preventing Data Rehydration & Storage Bloat

For enterprise environments and high-performance hosting, Windows Server remains a staple. Implementing a solid disaster recovery plan using the 3-2-1 backup rule is standard practice, but when moving backups to the clou…

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