Summary
Both automatic saves and automatic backups are key to protecting your server. Saves happen frequently, every few minutes, to preserve player progress during gameplay. Backups, on the other hand, take full snapshots of your server’s files at specific times, making it possible to restore your server if something goes wrong.
Automatic Saves
Automatic saves are built into Minecraft and run in the background without any setup needed. They act as checkpoints, capturing the game world and player data at regular intervals.
Safety Net: Prevents data loss from crashes or power outages.
Regular Intervals: Typically every few minutes, so progress is always up to date.
Default Feature: Enabled by default on most Minecraft servers.
Stability: Keeps gameplay smooth by minimizing disruptions after unexpected events.
Automatic Backups
Backups provide a complete snapshot of your server’s files at a specific point in time. They’re designed to protect against bigger issues like corruption, plugin conflicts, or griefing.
Full Snapshot: Captures the entire server’s state, not just gameplay progress.
Recovery Tool: Lets you roll back to a stable version if something breaks.
Protection from Issues: Helps recover from griefing, mod/plugin errors, or major crashes.
Storage Limits: Backups are stored in slots, each with a set size limit. Older ones may be replaced unless you expand your backup capacity.
In Short:
Saves protect player progress during gameplay.
Backups protect the entire server by letting you roll back if major issues occur.