How to backup a virtual server from within itself?

distro_dave

I've got an Ubuntu VPS and hoster doesn't offer any backup abilities in management system. Sadly there is some important Libreswan setup I need to preserve and move to another server, though I'm not into this piece of software and don't know what exactly and how to backup and restore there. So I need to image the whole system. But from within, while it's running, or through SSH. Is there a way to do it?

Originally asked by Andrew Orlow on Stack Exchange (superuser) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

uphilltech

Great question — answering as the UphillTech team:

Its linux. You work out what the configuration files are, and they will be text files, and move those This and this and seems a good place to start Unless you have a bespoke installation of some sort, backing up /etc/ipsec.conf , /etc/ipsec/secrets , and /etc/ipsec.d should be a good start. I'd also take note of any systemd or other init system files. With the right commands, you could even duplicate an entire server 'live' with just copying over the right files - as per my serverfault answer here

Full answer by Journeyman Geek: https://superuser.stackexchange.com/a/1941328 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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