> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://catalyst.leifiyo.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backups

> Create manual backups, schedule automatic backups, and restore server archives.

Backups are stored in each server's `backups/` folder. Catalyst creates zip archives with a worker thread so the app can keep updating progress while the archive is being built.

## Backup types

| Type      | Trigger                                            | Filename                                      |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| Manual    | Click the backup action in the server settings tab | Includes the chosen backup name when provided |
| Automatic | Scheduled by the server backup configuration       | Uses the `auto` naming pattern                |

<Info>
  Catalyst excludes the `backups/` folder itself from backup archives. This prevents backup files from nesting inside later backups.
</Info>

## Automatic backups

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open server settings">
    Go to the server detail page and choose **Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable automatic backups">
    Turn on the backup configuration and choose an interval in hours.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep Catalyst running">
    The main process checks backup schedules periodically while the app is open.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Restore a backup

<Warning>
  Stop the server before restoring. Catalyst refuses restore operations while the server is running.
</Warning>

Restore deletes the current server files except the `backups/` folder, then extracts the selected archive with path-traversal checks.

## Canceling a backup

If a backup is in progress, Catalyst can terminate the backup worker and remove the partial archive.

<Tip>
  Use export for moving a server to another machine. Use backups for recovery points on the same server.
</Tip>