Moodle Course Backup and Archive
Moodle Course Backup and Archive (MCBA)
Moodle Course Backup & Archive (MCBA) automates the process of backing up Moodle courses to a long-term archive location typically a network-attached storage (NAS) drive outside of Moodle's own file area.
Unlike Moodle's built-in automated backups, MCBA is designed for archival: creating a permanent, audited record of a course at a point in time that can be browsed, downloaded, or fully restored into a new course at any future date.
Features
Scheduled & Bulk Course Archiving
Queue a single course or an entire semester's worth in one action. Set daily, weekly, or monthly schedules and MCBA handles everything.
Browse Full Version History
Every backup is instantly accessible and restorable through a visual archive browser.
One-Click Course Restore
Recover any archived course into a new hidden Moodle course with a single click.
Configurable Retention Policies
Set archive expiry rules globally or per schedule to automatically remove older backups when they are no longer needed.
Proactive Alerts & Disk Monitoring
Receive email alerts for backup failures, overdue schedules, and storage usage with configurable warning and critical thresholds.
Comprehensive Reporting
Dedicated report tabs cover disk usage, backup history, schedule health, errors, and a full chronological audit log of every action taken.
Get Moodle Course Backup and Archive
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MCBA replace Moodle's built-in course backup system?#
No they serve different purposes and can run alongside each other on the same site. Moodle's built-in backups are short-term safety nets stored within Moodle's own file area. MCBA is designed for long-term archival to external storage, such as a NAS drive, with a user-facing browser, restore workflow, and full audit trail built in.
Can teachers access and restore their own course archives?#
Teachers with the appropriate permission can browse the Archive Browser and view the Restore History for courses they are enrolled in — but scheduling new backups is a manager or course-creator function by default. Permissions follow Moodle's standard role system and can be adjusted to match your organisation's policy.
What happens if a backup fails or the external storage is offline?#
The job is marked as failed, a clear error is recorded in the job log, and an alert email is sent to configured recipients. Once the issue is resolved whether that's remounting the NAS or correcting a path the job can be retried with a single click.
How do I know a backup file hasn't been corrupted?#
Every archive record stores a SHA-256 checksum computed at the moment the file was written. This is visible in the Archive Browser for every backup. You can compare it against the file on disk at any time to verify the archive is intact providing confidence for compliance and governance purposes.
Can I restore a course back over the original, or does it create a new one?#
MCBA always restores into a new, hidden course it never overwrites an existing one. This is a deliberate safeguard to prevent accidental data loss. The restored course is placed in a designated archive category for an administrator to review, publish, or use as a reference before any further action is taken.