Backup won't run because not enough disk space - what can we do?

[electric]

We have a client who has an account on a VPS, with a limit of 20gb disk space. The client is using about 15gb of the space for their email, and a total of about 15.5gb is used. (They have employee's who all use imap for email storage, so email is stored on the server.)

The cpanel backup does not run properly, because there is apparently not enough disk space to create the archive file before it is uploaded to the remote backup server.

Is there anything we can do? Suggestions are welcome...

Thanks!

[Mini]

Get a dedicated server?

Mini

[electric]

Get a dedicated server?

Mini

Yes, thanks. That's brilliant.

Any suggestions that do not involve upgrading to an account with more disk space?

[NightStorm]

Use rsync to the remote server that the backup files are stored to.
Basically, you're asking how to get space from nowhere. If the space is not available, it's simply not available. Either store the files somewhere else and back them up there, or have the customer trim down on some space usage so that the free space is available to create the backup.

[Aric1]

Short of getting the owner to remove some mail from the server the only other thing I can think of would be not to use cpbackup. You don't say what sort of remote backup you are using but many remote backup services have their own scripts that you can use to accomplish the same tasks. Many of these are more flexible. You might also look into uncompressed rsync backups. The initial transfer would take a long time but subsequent transfers will use much less disk space and bandwidth. You'd still need a backup solution that supported it with a lot of storage (at least 20 GB for this account alone).

Personally, I'd probably try to start convincing the user that if their e-mail is important to them that they should go with a larger VPS or dedicated server with a dedicated backup drive. It's probably better for everyone in the long run.

[RandyO]

Just send them a Gmail account and be done with it. I sell server space and as far as email goes, it is a courtesy service. 15Gigs of email on a server is silly (if not downright dumb) If they want backup service, they will make the space.

I would not get to excited about an issue like this that is user centered.