How to Create a Backup of Your Space Station 14 Server ​
Regular backups of your Space Station 14 server protect you from data loss — whether due to a failed update, a corrupted database or an accidentally overwritten configuration.
When should you create a backup? ​
- Before updating the server version
- Before major changes to the
server_config.toml - Before switching the database, for example from SQLite to PostgreSQL
- Before larger clean-ups of admins, bans or notes
- At regular intervals so you always have a safe state to return to
What gets backed up? ​
Space Station 14 is round-based and has no savegame and no world folder. When a round ends, the station is generated from scratch. Only these two things are stored permanently:
| Location | Content |
|---|---|
data folder | The database of your server (data/preferences.db by default) containing characters, playtimes, admins, bans and notes |
server_config.toml | The complete server configuration |
Both are located in the main directory of your server, next to the server application Robust.Server.
Note
If you want to move the data of your server manually, copy exactly these two items: the data folder and the server_config.toml file.
Create a backup ​
You can find the exact process for creating, managing and restoring a backup in the general guide: Create Backup.
Tip
Lock important backups (e.g. before major changes) so they cannot be overwritten by automatic backups. Also download especially important backups to your PC in case your backup limit is reached.
Caution
Stop your server before creating or restoring a backup. The database is written to while the server is running — a backup taken during operation can be incomplete.
Note
If you run your server with a PostgreSQL database instead of SQLite, characters, admins and bans are not stored in the data folder but inside that database. In that case back it up separately.
Info
Automatic backups as well as restarts can be requested free of charge via a support ticket. The "Scheduled Tasks" feature is currently in development and will be released this year.