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11. Snapshot Metadata

Each snapshot run automatically generates a snapshot-metadata.json file containing detailed information about the backup operation. This file is stored alongside your database backups and rotated with them by rsnapshot.

Metadata Contents:

The JSON file includes the following information:

  • Snapshot Information: Start time, end time, duration (seconds), and frequency (hourly/daily/weekly/monthly)
  • Database Server: Server type (MariaDB/MySQL), version, and version comment (e.g., "MySQL Community Server - GPL" or "MariaDB Server")
  • Client Information: MariaDB dump utility version
  • Configuration: Key environment variables used for the snapshot (excluding authentication details)

Example metadata file: 

{
  "snapshot_info": {
    "start_time": "2025-11-15T12:34:56Z",
    "end_time": "2025-11-15T12:35:23Z",
    "duration_seconds": 27,
    "frequency": "hourly"
  },
  "database_server": {
    "type": "MySQL",
    "version": "8.0.44",
    "version_comment": "MySQL Community Server - GPL"
  },
  "client_info": {
    "mariadb_dump_version": "mariadb-dump 11.4.8-MariaDB"
  },
  "configuration": {
    "DB_HOSTNAME": "mysql",
    "DB_PORT": "3306",
    "DB_DATABASES": "app1,app2",
    "RSNAPSHOT_RETAIN_HOURLY": "24",
    "GZIP_COMPRESSION_LEVEL": "9"
  }
}

Security Note: The metadata file excludes sensitive information like DB_USER_NAME and DB_USER_PASSWORD.