How to confirm that I can restore apps from cloud backup?

TrueNAS General
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1

I’ve had Cloud Backups configured with Storj since I started to use TrueNAS in May, but never got around to actually confirm that I understand what the restore process looks like. Since I’m now running for critical Docker containers, it is time to do so.

If I understand other threads, like this one, correctly, restore is a two-step process:

  1. Make a fresh install of the app, and configure it to use Host Paths for all storage.
  2. Stop the app and restore data from backups.

Done?

To actually run through this, is it possible to install a second copy of an app and restore data to its mounted folders as a “dry run”? Or would you suggest some other way to confirm both that the backups are good and that I can make use of them?

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I never used truenas apps. But AIUI, those are just docker containers, and to effectively backup/restore a docker container, you need 3 things:

  1. The docker image should be the same (have the same version).
  2. Your docker compose (or run) config. I assume that it is stored in the ix dataset.
  3. Your volumes and/or mounts. I assume that they are also stored under the ix dataset by default.
  4. Preferably the same host’s kernel version.

With vanilla docker – sure. Just make sure that they map different host’s ports (well, perhaps there can be other twists). With truenas apps – IDK. I suspect that truenas apps are “smart” enough to not allow you to install them twice.

1 Like
3

Thanks. Your suggestions have me another idea: When trying to understand connectivity between Docker containers on TrueNAS, I’ve seen some recommendations about using Dockge or Portainer when that’s needed.

Perhaps this could be a good opportunity to give one of them a go? Install one or two of my apps in either of them, and trying to restore data from my backups?

4

Didn’t use dockge, but saw some reviews on YouTube. Portainer looks superior in almost every aspect (except of being lightweight, perhaps?). But I’m biased as a long-time (since 2018 or 2017) portainer user.

Also, you can install portainer on the other machine and deploy only portainer-(edge)-agent on truenas. Thus, truenas will store only volumes and images. Well, this is not a beginner-friendly option.