# PDR 004: Automate recoverable copies of personal data

- HTML version: https://robbiepalmer.me/projects/homelab/pdrs/004-automate-recoverable-personal-data-copies
- Project: Home Lab
- Status: Accepted
- Opened: 2026-08-02
- Decided: 2026-08-02

## Context

Manual drive synchronization had repeatedly left personal files stale or
uncertain. The family photo library depended on one cloud account, while other
personal files existed on individual machines or disks. A copy that nobody can
verify or restore is not a dependable backup.

Different data already has different distribution. Photos, source code, and a
personal archive do not need one provider or one retention rule.

## Decision

Use the lab to create automatic, inspectable copies of personal data outside
each source system. Keep copied files readable without the source application
where practical. Monitor recurring copy jobs, surface failures and full
storage, and prove recovery rather than treating a completed upload as enough.

Define backup scope by data class. A new source joins only after its owner,
destination, retention needs, and restore path are clear. Existing independent
copies may satisfy the policy when their recovery path has been checked.

## Consequences

The lab owns recurring backup work that manual copying handled badly. It also
owns monitoring, restore drills, credentials, capacity, and retention costs.
Not every file belongs in every backup, so exclusions must remain deliberate
and documented.

## Evaluation

Each protected data class must have a recent independent copy, a visible
failure signal for recurring jobs, and a restore performed without relying on
the source application or source machine.

## Migration note

This PDR preserves the backup policy from the original narrative and the
product requirements mixed into ADR 005. ADR 005 retains the Ente export and
local-drive design. ADR 023 later applies the same policy to a separate
non-photo archive with its own proposed scope and recovery boundary.

## Related records

- Project: [Home Lab](https://robbiepalmer.me/projects/homelab.md)
- Implemented by ADR: [ADR 005: Ente for photo backup](https://robbiepalmer.me/projects/homelab/adrs/005-ente-photo-backup.md)
- Implemented by ADR: [ADR 006: Netdata for monitoring](https://robbiepalmer.me/projects/homelab/adrs/006-netdata.md)
- Implemented by ADR: [ADR 023: Restic and Backblaze B2 for the offsite non-photo archive](https://robbiepalmer.me/projects/homelab/adrs/023-restic-backblaze-personal-archive.md)

---

Markdown index of this site: https://robbiepalmer.me/llms.txt