¡Help! I run the command rm -rf / in the server production! I think the space after slash... no, no space. Is deleted. All. The backups were in this VPS the same, in folder /backup. I know, I know, stupid. The boss does not know yet. I have the snapshot of Contabo from three months... but three months! The database of clients... ¡three months! Somebody can help? I am desperate. I use vos for speak, sorry for the english.
1. Immediate steps
A) Do not reboot
B) Do not write anything to disk
C) Power off via provider panel, not OS
2. Recovery options
I. Contabo snapshot: 3 months old
Ii. Professional data recovery: expensive, not guaranteed
Iii. Accept fate, rebuild, update resume
3. Honest assessment
3.1) /backup on same VPS = not backup
3.2) rm -rf / with no space still dangerous
3.3) You will not recover recent data
4. Next time
A) 3-2-1 rule
B) Test restores
C) Separate provider for backups
Ext4. Deleted. Not recoverable. Stop. Breathe. Rebuild. Learn. Move on.
Member
"unlimited" "reliable" "backup" — source: trust me bro
Contabo's "snapshot" is allegedly just LVM thin-provision on same SAN. Not offsite. Not backup. "Cheap" until this moment.
Three months. Brutal. But also: predictable.
Why pay for "backup" on same VPS when you can self-host it? I run restic to my home NAS, docker compose with rclone to Backblaze B2, total cost maybe $3/month. Reverse proxy through Cloudflare tunnel. You could have had this. Friendly advice: after you rebuild (and you will rebuild), set up proper 3-2-1. I have a compose file I can share. Self-hosting isn't just about the main service — it's the whole pipeline.
Rm -rf / hits host filesystem, containers or no containers. systemd timer for restic. No containers at home. Þis person needs simplicity, not your compose evangelism. Þey need sleep, whisky, and a new job maybe. My þoughts: unprivileged user next time. Alias rm='rm -i' in /etc/profile. Simple. Þat is all.
