How to use Server Rewind to restore files and databases

This article describes how to use the Server Rewind feature in cPanel to restore files and databases on your web site. Using Server Rewind, you can restore a file, a set of files, or a database with just a few clicks. For example, you might accidentally delete a file on your web site. If you have backups enabled on your web site, you can use Server Rewind to restore the previous version of the file.

Backups and Server Rewind

All A2 Hosting servers have redundant hard drives for real-time RAID 1 mirrored backups. We also provide off-server backups. These server backups are stored for the last 30 days on a best-effort basis. To do a restore from one of these backups, use the Server Rewind feature in cPanel.

If you require assistance from our Guru Crew in retrieving backups, please open a support ticket on the Customer Portal at https://my.a2hosting.com. In the ticket, please specify what you want to restore, and we will make a best effort to restore your data.

Restoring files with Server Rewind

To restore files using Server Rewind, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open Server Rewind:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click Server Rewind:

     

   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click Server Rewind:
     

     

3. Select the date that contains the version of the file or files that you want to restore. To expand a date, click the + icon.
   

   It is crucial to Server Rewind’s success that only the necessary files are selected for restoration. Selecting a whole day instead of a specific file (or directory) or attempting to restore the /public_html file that hosts multiple sites will often cause Server Rewind to stall or crash. Restoring one site at a time and only the files necessary is the best way to guarantee a successful restoration.

4. Navigate to the file or files that you want to restore. To expand a directory, click the + icon. You can select an entire directory or specific files to restore. Click the checkbox next to each file you would like to restore, like in the example below:
   

   
   If no files have been selected, the following prompt will appear (you will then have to go back and select the files you want to restore:)

   

5. Under Options, select the Overwrite existing files checkbox to overwrite existing files with the restored files.

6. Optionally, if you want to restore the files to a different location, in the Restore into this location in my home directory text box, type the location for the restored files.
   

   If you are restoring an account that has been compromised, make sure that you restore the files to an empty directory. Server Rewind does not delete malicious files that were uploaded after the restore date you selected.

7. Click Restore!
   

   

   The length of time to complete the restore process depends on directory size, the number and size of the files, and so on.

Restoring databases with Server Rewind

To restore databases using Server Rewind, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see this article.
2. Open Server Rewind:
   • If you are using the Jupiter theme, on the Tools page, in the Files section, click Server Rewind:

     

   • If you are using the Paper Lantern theme, in the FILES section of the cPanel home page, click Server Rewind:
     

     

3. Click the Restore Databases tab.
4. Select the date that contains the database version that you want to restore. To expand a date, click the + icon.
5. Select the database that you want to restore.
6. Under Options, select the Overwrite existing database checkbox to overwrite the existing database.
7. In the Write SQL into this location in my home directory text box, type the location for the restored database.
8. Click Restore.