Mac mini server backups need real restore tests
A backup plan is not complete until restores are tested. In this setup, most apps run inside Incus , then incus export turns those into files.
Borg sends the backups away and encrypts them. Another scheduled job pushes the backups to a , making the setup close to a plan.
The restore process was tested when was first built, but about six months have passed. The practical question is how often a owner should repeat a full recovery test, not just whether backup files exist.
Key points
- Backups should be tested by restoring, not just by checking that files exist.
- Incus can be exported with incus export.
- Borg is used to send and encrypt the backup data.
- A cloud copy helps turn local backups into a plan.
- A restore test after about six months is a reasonable reminder point.