Or use dexter's server/any sane script that backs up.
Dropbox doesn't require you to use any hard drive space for the backups, though. And while I didn't look, I don't think it as simple to restore backups for those scripts.
How can you stop griefers? By making their efforts useless. If they delete a whole map full of great buildings, and you can restore it in a few seconds, then they're simply wasting their time. If every server can do that, then their motivation to grief is incredibly small.
So, I'm going to show you how to do that, by having backups for every minute the server has been running! And not only that, but I'll let you do it without taking up any hard drive space! All you need is an active admin who'll be around to revert the backups and restart the server, everything else is automatic.
Beginning
Ok, to do these backups, we're going to use Dropbox.
We're going to use the Dropbox versioning to allow us to keep versions of the server_level.dat file. Versions don't count toward your space, and you get 2GB for free, which is plenty. The Minecraft server saves server_level.dat every minute, so Dropbox will save a version of it every minute.
2. Set up Dropbox.
There's lots of guides on their site, I won't help you with this. However, I recommend not changing the My Dropbox location.
Here's my affiliate link: https://www.getdropbox.com/referrals/NTE1NjM0MTk
And here's the regular link: https://www.getdropbox.com/install
Using the affiliate link gives you an extra 250MB and me a little extra space when you install Dropbox, but it's your choice.
3. Move your server to My Dropbox
This is the folder that Dropbox synchronizes.
4. You're done!
Make sure everything has green checkboxes by them, which means Dropbox has them fully synchronized, and start your server. Now, every minute when the server saves the level, Dropbox will upload the file. Note, the server.log file will never upload while the server is running, because Minecraft is using it.
Restoring Your Backups
Oh no! Overnight, someone came through your server and deleted practically everything! Time to restore!
However, before you restore, you should think about it. Restoring will remove everything in your server that has been built since the time of the backup. It will also require you to restart the server, kicking everyone off. If you're sure you want to restore, then read on:
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Dropbox doesn't require you to use any hard drive space for the backups, though. And while I didn't look, I don't think it as simple to restore backups for those scripts.
0
So, I'm going to show you how to do that, by having backups for every minute the server has been running! And not only that, but I'll let you do it without taking up any hard drive space! All you need is an active admin who'll be around to revert the backups and restart the server, everything else is automatic.
Beginning
Ok, to do these backups, we're going to use Dropbox.
1. Watch this to learn about Dropbox: http://www.getdropbox.com/screencast
Seriously, you need to watch it to understand.
We're going to use the Dropbox versioning to allow us to keep versions of the server_level.dat file. Versions don't count toward your space, and you get 2GB for free, which is plenty. The Minecraft server saves server_level.dat every minute, so Dropbox will save a version of it every minute.
2. Set up Dropbox.
There's lots of guides on their site, I won't help you with this. However, I recommend not changing the My Dropbox location.
Here's my affiliate link: https://www.getdropbox.com/referrals/NTE1NjM0MTk
And here's the regular link: https://www.getdropbox.com/install
Using the affiliate link gives you an extra 250MB and me a little extra space when you install Dropbox, but it's your choice.
3. Move your server to My Dropbox
This is the folder that Dropbox synchronizes.
4. You're done!
Make sure everything has green checkboxes by them, which means Dropbox has them fully synchronized, and start your server. Now, every minute when the server saves the level, Dropbox will upload the file. Note, the server.log file will never upload while the server is running, because Minecraft is using it.
Restoring Your Backups
Oh no! Overnight, someone came through your server and deleted practically everything! Time to restore!
However, before you restore, you should think about it. Restoring will remove everything in your server that has been built since the time of the backup. It will also require you to restart the server, kicking everyone off. If you're sure you want to restore, then read on:
1. Go to the Dropbox site.
http://getdropbox.com
2. Browse to your Minecraft folder, and open the revisions on server_level.dat:
3. Figure out when you want to restore.
You'll probably have to do some sleuthing in the server log to figure this out.
4. Stop the server.
You have to do this, otherwise the server won't read your backup.
5. Restore.
6. Start the server.
You're done!
Note, this is not a substitute for proper admins. This is only neutering griefers, not stopping them.