Storage Providers

Storage providers are server-level destinations used by Database Backups and Volume Backups. Configure them once under Settings → Server → Storage Providers, then select them from a service's backup configuration.

Only server administrators can create, edit, disconnect, or remove providers.

S3-Compatible Storage

Use AWS S3, R2, Spaces, Backblaze B2, Wasabi, or another S3 API

FTP and SFTP

Send backups to a server using password authentication

Dropbox

Connect a Dropbox account through OAuth

Google Drive

Connect a Google Drive account through OAuth

Local Storage

Write backups to a filesystem path on the Easypanel server

Choose a provider

Provider	Good choice when	Important limitation
S3-compatible	You need durable, remote production storage	Credentials and bucket permissions must be configured correctly
SFTP	You control another server and want an encrypted connection	Easypanel currently supports password authentication, not an SSH key
FTP	A legacy destination only provides FTP	FTP does not encrypt credentials or backup traffic
Dropbox	You want a simple OAuth-based destination	The connected account's quota and token must remain valid
Google Drive	You want a simple OAuth-based destination	The connected account's quota and token must remain valid
Local	You need a temporary or secondary copy on the server	It does not protect against failure or loss of that server

For production disaster recovery, use a destination outside the Easypanel server. S3-compatible storage is usually the most predictable option for retention, lifecycle rules, monitoring, and provider-side versioning.

Create a provider

Open Settings → Server → Storage Providers.
Select Add Provider.
Choose a provider type.
Enter a descriptive name and the provider-specific connection settings.
Save or complete the OAuth authorization.
Confirm that the provider appears connected.
Create a backup configuration and perform a Manual Run.
Check its action log and verify the expected file at the destination.

Use names that identify both the provider and environment, such as production-r2 or offsite-sftp. Provider names appear in backup forms and action logs.

What connection validation proves

When you create or update S3, FTP, or SFTP, Easypanel asks rclone to list the destination. The provider is rejected with Could not connect if that command fails.

This check proves only that Easypanel can authenticate and list the remote root. It does not prove that the account can upload, download, overwrite, or delete objects. Dropbox and Google Drive become available after OAuth completes. Local providers are saved without testing the path.

Always run a manual backup after creating or changing any provider.

Required permissions

The provider account or filesystem path needs the operations used by your backup workflow:

Operation	Why Easypanel needs it
List	Validate S3, FTP, and SFTP and enumerate files for retention
Write	Upload database dumps and synchronize volume data
Read	Restore database backups and manually recover volume data
Delete	Enforce database retention and remove destination files during a volume sync

Grant these permissions only within the intended bucket, remote directory, or filesystem path. A dedicated credential limits the impact of accidental deletion or disclosure.

Destination paths

A backup configuration adds its Destination Path below the provider's base:

S3 stores it below the configured bucket.
FTP, SFTP, Dropbox, and Google Drive store it below the connected remote root.
Local stores it below the provider's filesystem path.

Destination paths accept letters, numbers, /, ., _, and -. Use a unique path for every backup configuration:

production/orders-postgres
production/web-uploads

This separation matters because database retention considers every file under its destination path, while volume backups synchronize the destination to match the source volume.

Edit, disconnect, or remove a provider

Editing connection details affects every backup configuration that references the provider. Run each important configuration manually after changing credentials, endpoints, or paths.

Dropbox and Google Drive can be Disconnected without removing the provider. Disconnecting revokes the authorization and makes the provider unavailable for backups until it is connected again.

Removing a provider deletes its configuration from Easypanel and causes backup configurations that reference it to fail. It does not delete files already stored at the destination.

Before removal, identify dependent backup configurations and move them to another tested provider.

Operational checklist

Keep the destination outside the Easypanel server.
Use a dedicated account or credential with scoped permissions.
Enable provider-side versioning when available, especially for volume mirrors.
Monitor destination capacity, quota, and authentication failures.
Review backup action logs rather than assuming a schedule succeeded.
Test a restore into non-production data.
Rotate credentials deliberately and retest every dependent configuration.