Blacklabelops Volumerize

Blacklabelops backup and restore solution for Docker volume backups. It is based on the command line tool Duplicity. Dockerized and Parameterized for easier use and configuration.

This is not a tool that can clone and backup data from running databases. You should always stop all containers running on your data before doing backups. Always make sure you're not a victim of unexpected data corruption.

Also note that the easier the tools the easier it is to lose data! Always make sure the tool works correct by checking the backup data itself, e.g. S3 bucket. Check the configuration double time and enable some check options this image offers. E.g. attaching volumes read only.

Features:

• Multiple Backends
• Cron Schedule
• Start and Stop Containers

Supported backends:

• Filesystem
• Amazon S3
• DropBox
• Google Drive
• ssh/scp
• rsync

and many more: Duplicity Supported Backends

Support

Leave a message and ask questions on Hipchat: blacklabelops/hipchat

Maybe no one has ever told you, but Munich developers run on beer! If you like my work, share a beer!

Volume Backups Tutorials

Docker Volume Backups on:

Backblaze B2: Readme

Amazon S3: Readme

Dropbox: Readme

Google Drive: Readme

Make It Short

You can make backups of your Docker application volume just by typing:

$ docker run --rm \
    --name volumerize \
    -v yourvolume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize backup

Hooks up your volume with the name yourvolume and backups to the volume backup_volume

How It Works

The container has a default startup mode. Any specific behavior is done by defining envrionment variables at container startup (docker run). The default container behavior is to start in daemon mode and do incremental daily backups.

Your application data must be saved inside a Docker volume. You can list your volumes with the Docker command docker volume ls. You have to attach the volume to the backup container using the -v option. Choose an arbitrary name for the folder and add the :rooption to make the sources read only.

Example using Jenkins:

$ docker run \
     -d -p 80:8080 \
     --name jenkins \
     -v jenkins_volume:/jenkins \
     blacklabelops/jenkins

Starts Jenkins and stores its data inside the Docker volume jenkins_volume.

Now attach the Jenkins data to folders inside the container and tell blacklabelops/volumerize to backup folder /source to folder /backup.

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Will start the Volumerizer. The volume jenkins_volume is now folder /source and backups_volume is now folder /backup inside the container.

You can execute commands inside the container, e.g. doing an immediate backup or even restore:

$ docker exec volumerize backup

Will trigger a backup.

Backup Multiple volumes

The container can backup one source folder, see environment variable VOLUMERIZE_TARGET. If you want to backup multiple volumes you will have to hook up multiple volumes under the same source folder.

Example:

• Volume: application_data
• Volume: application_database_data
• Volume: application_configuration

Now start the container hook them up under the same folder source.

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v application_data:/source/application_data:ro \
    -v application_database_data:/source/application_database_data:ro \
    -v application_configuration:/source/application_configuration:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Will run Volumerize on the common parent folder /source.

Backup Restore

A restore is simple. First stop your Volumerize container and start a another container with the same environment variables and the same volume but without read-only mode! This is important in order to get the same directory structure as when you did your backup!

Tip: Now add the read-only option to your backup container!

Example:

You did your backups with the following settings:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Then stop the backup container and restore with the following command. The only difference is that we exclude the read-only option :ro from the source volume and added it to the backup volume:

$ docker stop volumerize
$ docker run --rm \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source \
    -v backup_volume:/backup:ro \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize restore
$ docker start volumerize

Triggers a once time restore. The container for executing the restore command will be deleted afterwards

You can restore from a particular backup by adding a time parameter to the command restore. For example, using restore -t 3D at the end in the above command will restore a backup from 3 days ago. See the Duplicity manual to view the accepted time formats.

To see the available backups, use the command list before doing a restore.

Dry run

You can pass the --dry-run parameter to the restore command in order to test the restore functionality:

$ docker run --rm \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source \
    -v backup_volume:/backup:ro \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize restore --dry-run

But in order to see the differences between backup and source you need the verify command:

$ docker run --rm \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source \
    -v backup_volume:/backup:ro \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize verify

Periodic Backups

The default cron setting for this container is: 0 0 4 * * *. That's four o'clock in the morning UTC. You can set your own schedule with the environment variable VOLUMERIZE_JOBBER_TIME.

You can set the time zone with the environment variable TZ.

The syntax is different from cron because I use Jobber as a cron tool: Jobber Time Strings

Example:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "TZ=Europe/Berlin" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_JOBBER_TIME=0 0 3 * * *" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Backups at three o'clock in the morning according to german local time.

Docker Container Restarts

This image can stop and start Docker containers before and after backup. Docker containers are specified using the environment variable VOLUMERIZE_CONTAINERS. Just enter their names in a empty space separated list.

Example:

• Docker container application with name application
• Docker container application database with name application_database

Note: Needs the parameter -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock in order to be able to start and stop containers on the host.

Example:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_CONTAINERS=application application_database" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

The startup routine will be applied to the following scripts: backup, backupFull, restore and periodBackup.

Test the routine!

$ docker exec volumerize backup

Warning: Make sure your container is running under the correct restart policy. Tools like Docker, Docker-Compose, Docker-Swarm, Kubernetes and Cattle may restart the container even when Volumerize stops it. Backups done under running instances may end in corrupted backups and even corrupted data. Always make sure that the command docker stop really stops an instance and there will be no restart of the underlying deployment technology. You can test this by running docker stop and check with docker ps that the container is really stopped.

Duplicity Parameters

Under the hood blacklabelops/volumerize uses duplicity. See here for duplicity command line options: Duplicity CLI Options

You can pass duplicity options inside Volumerize. Duplicity options will be passed by the environment-variable VOLUMERIZE_DUPLICITY_OPTIONS. The options will be added to all blacklabelops/volumerize commands and scripts. E.g. the option --dry-run will put the whole container in demo mode as all duplicity commands will only be simulated.

Example:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_DUPLICITY_OPTIONS=--dry-run" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Will only operate in dry-run simulation mode.

Symmetric Backup Encryption

You can encrypt your backups by setting a secure passphrase inside the environment variable PASSPHRASE.

Creating a secure passphrase:

$ docker run --rm blacklabelops/volumerize openssl rand 128 -base64

Prints an appropriate password on the console.

Example:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    -e "PASSPHRASE=Jzwv1V83LHwtsbulVS7mMyijStBAs7Qr/V2MjuYtKg4KQVadRM" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Same functionality as described above but all backups will be encrypted.

Asymmetric Key-Based Backup Encryption

You can encrypt your backups with secure secret keys.

You need:

• A key, specified by the environment-variable VOLUMERIZE_GPG_PRIVATE_KEY
• A key passphrase, specified by the environment-variable PASSPHRASE

Creating a key? Install gpg on your comp and type:

$ gpg2 --full-gen-key
Please select what kind of key you want:
   (1) RSA and RSA (default)
   (2) DSA and Elgamal
   (3) DSA (sign only)
   (4) RSA (sign only)
Your selection? 1
RSA keys may be between 1024 and 4096 bits long.
What keysize do you want? (2048)
Requested keysize is 2048 bits   
Please specify how long the key should be valid.
         0 = key does not expire
      <n>  = key expires in n days
      <n>w = key expires in n weeks
      <n>m = key expires in n months
      <n>y = key expires in n years
Key is valid for? (0)
Key does not expire at all
Is this correct? (y/N) y

GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.

Real name: YourName
Email address: yourname@youremail.com
Comment:                            
You selected this USER-ID:
    "YourName <yourname@youremail.com>"

Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O
$ gpg2 --export-secret-keys --armor yourname@youremail.com > MyKey.asc

Note: Currently, this image only supports keys without passwords. The import routine is at fault, it would always prompt for passwords.

Example:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -v $(pwd)/MyKey.asc:/key/MyKey.asc \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_GPG_PRIVATE_KEY=/key/MyKey.asc" \
    -e "PASSPHRASE=" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

This will import a key without a password set.

Test the routine!

$ docker exec volumerize backup

Enforcing Full Backups Periodically

The default behavior is that the initial backup is a full backup. Afterwards, Volumerize will perform incremental backups. You can enforce another full backup periodically by specifying the environment variable VOLUMERIZE_FULL_IF_OLDER_THAN.

The format is a number followed by one of the characters s, m, h, D, W, M, or Y. (indicating seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years)

Examples:

• After three Days: 3D
• After one month: 1M
• After 55 minutes: 55m

Volumerize Example:

$ docker run -d \
    --name volumerize \
    -v jenkins_volume:/source:ro \
    -v backup_volume:/backup \
    -v cache_volume:/volumerize-cache \
    -e "TZ=Europe/Berlin" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_SOURCE=/source" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_TARGET=file:///backup" \
    -e "VOLUMERIZE_FULL_IF_OLDER_THAN=7D" \
    blacklabelops/volumerize

Will enforce a full backup after seven days.

For the difference between a full and incremental backup, see Duplicity's documentation.

Post scripts and pre scripts (prepost strategies)

Pre-scripts must be located at /preexecute/$duplicity_action/$your_scripts_here.

Post-scripts must be located at /postexecute/$duplicity_action/$your_scripts_here.

$duplicity_action folder must be named backup, restore or verify.

Note: backup action is the same for the scripts backup, backupFull, backupIncremental and periodicBackup.

All .sh files located in the $duplicity_action folder will be executed in alphabetical order.

When using prepost strategies, this will be the execution flow: pre-scripts -> stop containers -> duplicity action -> start containers -> post-scripts.

Some premade strategies are available at prepost strategies.

Container Scripts

This image creates at container startup some convenience scripts.

Script	Description
backup	Creates an backup with the containers configuration
backupFull	Creates a full backup with the containers configuration
backupIncremental	Creates an incremental backup with the containers configuration
list	List all available backups
verify	Compare the latest backup to your local files
restore	Be Careful! Triggers an immediate force restore with the latest backup
periodicBackup	Same script that will be triggered by the periodic schedule
startContainers	Starts the specified Docker containers
stopContainers	Stops the specified Docker containers
remove-older-than	Delete older backups
cleanCacheLocks	Cleanup of old Cache locks.
prepoststrategy $execution_phase $duplicity_action	Execute all .sh files for the specified exeuction phase and duplicity action in alphabetical order.

$execution_phase must be preAction or postAction.

$duplicity_action must be backup, verify or restpore.

Example triggering script inside running container:

$ docker exec volumerize backup

Executes script backup inside container with name volumerize

Passing script parameters:

Under the hood blacklabelops/volumerize uses duplicity. See here for duplicity command line options: Duplicity CLI Options

Example:

$ docker exec volumerize backup --dry-run

--dry-run will simulate not execute the backup procedure.

Build The Project

Check out the project at Github.

Build the Image

$ docker build -t blacklabelops/volumerize .

Run the Image

$ docker run -it --rm blacklabelops/volumerize bash