Backup Verification

A backup that has never been tested is a comforting story, not a backup.

What to verify

1. Backups exist
2. Backups are recent
3. Backups are restorable

Check logs

Look for backup-related entries:

grep -i backup /var/log/messages | tail -50

If your backups log elsewhere, adjust accordingly.

Check backup destination

If backups are on a mounted disk or network share, confirm it is mounted:

mount | grep -E 'nfs|cifs|smb|sshfs'
df -h

Quick restore test (recommended)

At least occasionally:

• restore a small file
• restore a config file
• confirm permissions/ownership are intact

Example approach:

• pick a small file in a shared area
• restore to a temporary folder
• compare hashes

sha256sum /path/original/file
sha256sum /path/restored/file

What to document

Write down:

• where backups are stored
• how to restore
• who gets notified on failure
• how long retention is meant to be