Unraid Backup & Recovery Plan

Last revised: 2025-11-01
Server name: Gyarados

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System Overview

Component	Details
Array	4 drives total (3 data + 1 parity)
Parity	1 drive (single parity protection)
Pools	- cache_protected → 500GB RAID1 (btrfs) - cache_appdata → 500GB RAID1 (btrfs) - cache → 4TB XFS (no redundancy)
Important Shares	appdata, system, backups
Unraid Flash Drive	Backed up daily by CA Backup/Restore plugin

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Backup Strategy

Local / Onsite

Backup Type	Tool	Frequency	Destination	Notes
Appdata + Flash	CA Backup/Restore	Daily	/mnt/user/backups/unraid_backups on array	Stored in “backups” share, included in offsite sync
Array Data Backup	rsync	Monthly	External 28TB USB drive	Plugged in manually, includes flash + appdata backups
Parity Check	Unraid checker	Monthly	N/A	Non-correcting, same day as backup

Offsite

Backup Type	Tool	Frequency	Destination	Notes
1st Critical Data Backup	Duplicacy	Nightly	Backblaze B2	Backs up /mnt/user/backups share (includes appdata + flash backups)
2nd Critical Data Backup	rclone	Weekly	Backblaze B2	Backs up /mnt/user/backups share (includes appdata + flash backups)
Offsite Verification	Scripted Duplicacy restore	Monthly	Local test_restore folder	Verifies integrity with checksum comparison

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Maintenance Schedule

Task	Frequency	Tool / Command	Notes
Parity Check (non-correcting)	Monthly	Unraid Checker	Run before external backup
External Backup (rsync)	Monthly	28TB External Userscript	Rotate drive offsite if possible
btrfs Scrub (cache pools)	Monthly	/mnt/cache_protected and /mnt/cache_appdata	Detects and repairs bitrot, just click the pool and then "scrub"
Duplicacy Check	Monthly	duplicacy check -a -tabular	Confirms remote chunks are valid
File Integrity Verification	Monthly	Offsite Verify Userscript	Grab random files, checksum them and compare vs. backup
Recovery Test	Every 90 days	Manual	Restore 3-5 files from each backup source

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Recovery Procedures

Array or Disk Failure

1. Confirm only one disk is disabled and parity is valid before proceeding with rebuild.
2. Identify the failed drive by serial number. Stop the array.
3. Replace the failed drive with a new, precleared one and assign it to the same slot.
4. Start the array — Unraid will begin rebuilding the disk from parity.
5. Run a non-correcting parity check to confirm parity accuracy post-rebuild.

Flash Drive Failure

1. Replace flash with new USB stick.
2. Copy contents of latest flash backup (gyarados-flash-backup.zip) from /mnt/user/backups/unraid_backups or Backblaze.
3. Transfer license using Unraid’s automated license replacement system (Tools → Registration).

Appdata Loss / Corruption

1. Stop the Docker service before restoring appdata.
2. Install “CA Backup/Restore Appdata” plugin (if not already).
3. Select most recent backup under /mnt/user/backups/unraid_backups/.
4. Click "Restore" at the top of the Appdata Restore plugin and follow instructions.
5. Start the Docker service and verify containers.

Full Array Loss / Catastrophic Event

1. Reinstall Unraid on new flash drive if needed.
2. Recreate array and pools matching original layout from system overview.
3. Restore data from:
   • External 28TB backup drive (via rsync)
   • Duplicacy or rclone (Backblaze) for critical data if External is damaged