Backup and Restore Cluster Data and Settings

  • This page is under construction.
Cluster backups contain bucket data, index creation scripts, bucket configurations, and so on. Backups can be configured to be taken on an automatic schedule, or they can be taken manually.

Couchbase Cloud supports localized backup of clusters. Backups can be taken on-demand, or configured on an automatic schedule. Clusters can then be restored from backups in the event of data loss.

For production clusters, as part of an overall disaster recovery plan, you should configure a robust automatic backup schedule and retention policy. This helps ensure that you do not lose data in the event of a serious failure and minimizes data inconsistency when a restore is required.

About Cluster Backups

Couchbase Cloud uses its own custom backup technology and does not utilize or support the native snapshot capabilities of your cloud provider.

What is included in a cluster backup:

  • Bucket data

  • Bucket configurations

  • Index definitions

What is not included in a cluster backup:

  • TBD

Backup Types

Couchbase Cloud supports two types of backups: Full and Incremental. Full backups take the most time to complete and require the most storage, whereas Incremental backups only take a fraction of the time and storage space, since they only include the data changes since the last Full backup.

Due to the active nature of Couchbase Server, it is impossible to create a complete in-time backup and snapshot of the entire cluster. Because the data is always being updated and modified, it is not possible to take an accurate snapshot.

About Restoring a Cluster From a Backup

When you restore from a backup, the entire cluster is restored. This is because Couchbase does not guarantee total cluster consistency or in-order persistence (although it is always per-item consistent). As a result, the entire cluster needs to be restored in order to minimize any data inconsistencies.

Backups can be restore onto the same cluster that they were taken on, or they can be restored to another cluster, so long as those clusters are deployed in the same connected cloud.

Restore Requirements

  • Backups can be restored to any cluster that is deployed in the same connected cloud.

  • Backups can only be restored to a cluster that is running the same major version of Couchbase Server, or one major version higher. Backups cannot be restored to clusters that are running older versions of Couchbase Server.