The Nobregas MySQL Panel creates two types of backups — automatic and manual. Understanding the difference helps you manage your backup strategy, know when you are protected, and decide when to create additional snapshots.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Automatic Backups | Manual Backups |
|---|---|---|
| Created by | The system, on a schedule | You, on demand |
| Frequency | Daily or weekly (plan-dependent) | Whenever you click Create Backup |
| Label | Marked as "Auto" | Marked as "Manual" |
| Rotation | Older automatic backups may be replaced | Persist until you delete them |
| Contents | Full database dump | Full database dump |
| Download | Yes | Yes |
| Restore | Yes | Yes |
Identifying Backup Types in the List
On the Backups page, each backup entry shows:
- Type badge — "Auto" or "Manual" label next to the backup name.
- Timestamp — When the backup was created.
- Database name — Which database was backed up.
- Size — How large the backup file is.
Automatic backups typically have timestamps at regular intervals (e.g., daily at midnight), while manual backups have timestamps matching when you clicked the button.
Automatic Backups
How They Work
The system automatically creates backups of your databases on a regular schedule. No action is required from you — the panel handles it silently in the background.
Schedule
The exact schedule depends on your hosting plan. Most plans include daily automatic backups with a retention period (e.g., last 7 daily backups kept).
Rotation
When a new automatic backup is created, the oldest automatic backup may be removed to stay within the retention limit. This rotation happens automatically — you do not lose backups unexpectedly, but you cannot keep unlimited automatic backups.
Manual Backups
How They Work
You create manual backups explicitly by clicking the Create Backup button on the Backups page. Each manual backup creates a new entry in your backup list.
No Automatic Rotation
Manual backups are never automatically deleted. They persist until you explicitly remove them. This means you control exactly which snapshots are kept.
Use Cases
- Pre-migration safety nets
- Pre-deployment checkpoints
- End-of-sprint snapshots
- Before running destructive queries
Best Practices for Both Types
- Rely on automatic backups for day-to-day protection.
- Create manual backups before major operations (migrations, bulk deletes, structural changes).
- Download important backups to local storage regardless of type.
- Monitor your storage quota — both types consume backup storage.
- Do not delete all automatic backups — let the rotation system manage them.
Which Should You Restore From?
- For recent recovery — Use the most recent automatic backup (usually less than 24 hours old).
- For specific point-in-time recovery — Use a manual backup created before the event you want to recover from.
