The Backup User Selection interface in WHM lets you control which user accounts are included in your automated backups. By default, all user accounts are backed up, but you can exclude specific accounts to save storage space or skip accounts that don't need regular backups.
What is Backup User Selection in WHM?
Backup User Selection is a WHM feature that gives you granular control over your server's backup process. Instead of backing up every single user account on your server, you can choose to exclude certain accounts from scheduled backups. This is particularly useful for test accounts, suspended users, or accounts with large amounts of data that don't require regular backup protection.
When you configure backups through WHM's Backup Configuration interface, the system automatically includes all user accounts by default. The Backup User Selection tool allows you to override this behavior on a per-account basis.
How to Exclude a User Account from Backups
To exclude a specific user account from your scheduled backups, follow these steps:
- Log in to WHM (Web Host Manager)
- Navigate to Home > Backup > Backup User Selection
- Find the user account you want to exclude from the list
- Toggle the Enable switch to Disable for that account
- Your changes are saved automatically
Once disabled, that user account will no longer be included in your server's scheduled backup routine. The account will remain active and functional, but its data won't be backed up during automated backup cycles.
Managing Multiple User Account Backups
If you need to enable or disable backups for multiple accounts at once, WHM provides a bulk action feature:
- Click the Account Actions button at the top of the interface
- Select Disable All to exclude all user accounts from backups
- Select Enable All to include all user accounts in backups
This bulk feature is helpful when you're setting up a new backup strategy or need to temporarily pause backups across your entire server.
When to Exclude Users from Backups
There are several scenarios where excluding user accounts from backups makes sense:
- Test or development accounts: Accounts used for testing don't typically need backup protection
- Suspended accounts: If an account is suspended and won't be reactivated, backing it up wastes resources
- Large media accounts: Accounts with massive media libraries that are already backed up elsewhere
- Temporary accounts: Short-term accounts that will be deleted soon
- Storage optimization: Reducing backup size to fit within your backup storage allocation
Keep in mind that excluding an account means you won't be able to restore its data from server backups if something goes wrong. Only exclude accounts where you're comfortable with this risk or have alternative backup solutions in place.
Best Practices for Backup User Selection
When managing which users are included in your backups, consider these recommendations:
- Document your exclusions: Keep a record of which accounts you've excluded and why
- Review regularly: Periodically check your exclusion list to ensure it's still appropriate
- Communicate with clients: If you exclude a customer's account, make sure they know and understand the implications
- Monitor backup size: Track how exclusions affect your total backup storage usage
- Test restores: Regularly verify that your included accounts are backing up correctly
At OBHost, backup management is straightforward through WHM's intuitive interface, giving you complete control over your server's data protection strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will excluding a user from backups affect their website or email?
No, excluding a user account from backups has no impact on their website, email, databases, or any other services. The account continues to function normally. The only change is that the account's data won't be included in scheduled server backups, so you won't be able to restore it from those backups if needed.
Can I re-enable backups for a user after disabling them?
Yes, you can re-enable backups for any user account at any time. Simply navigate to the Backup User Selection interface, find the account, and toggle the setting back to Enable. The account will be included in the next scheduled backup that runs after you make the change.
Do excluded users still count toward my backup storage quota?
No, when you exclude a user account from backups, their data is not backed up and therefore does not consume any of your backup storage space. This is one of the main benefits of using the Backup User Selection feature to reduce overall backup size and storage costs.
What happens to existing backups when I exclude a user?
Existing backups that were created before you excluded a user account will still contain that user's data. Only future backups will exclude the account. If you want to remove the user from older backups to free up storage space, you'll need to manually delete those older backup files or wait for them to be automatically rotated out based on your retention settings.
OBHost's support team is available 24/7 to help you configure backups and manage user selections. If you have questions about backup strategies or need assistance with WHM, visit our contact page or email support@obhost.org.
