How to backup MongoDB to Dropbox

MongoDB database backup stored in your Dropbox account.

Let's see how we can easily schedule MongoDB backups and store them on Dropbox.

Dropbox lets anyone upload and transfer files to the cloud, and share them with anyone. Back up photos, videos, docs, and other files to cloud storage, and access files synced with any of your computers or mobile devices—from anywhere.

Prerequisites

Create a SimpleBackups account
Make sure you have your (the one on which your MongoDB database is hosted)
Have a Dropbox account

1. Connect your Dropbox Account to SimpleBackups

Log into SimpleBackups and head to the Connect a Storage page
In the storage provider list select "Dropbox", and click on the Connect Dropbox button.

Connect Dropbox to SimpleBackups

You'll then be redirected to a Dropbox page asking you to grant access to your storage and create a folder named Apps > SimpleBackus.io. Sign in and hit Allow.

Grant SimpleBackups to Dropbox

And your storage is now connected!

Storage list with newly created Dropbox storage

2. Final step: Create your MongoDB backup

Last step is obviously to schedule your backup.

From this screen you'll be able to configure what data you're backing up (MongoDB in this case), where you want it to be saved (in this case your Dropbox storage), and how often you want this to be done.

FYI this section will be the same, no matter what storage you pick. And that's the beauty of it, if you want to change storage, just select another one from the list (Backblaze, AWS, or whatever you might prefer) and you'll be good to go.

Configuration form, for a MongoDB database backup connected to your Dropbox storage

What would you like to back up? (A)

Select "Database" (in this article we're creating a MongoDB backup only)
Select the server on which your database is hosted

How often should we make this backup? (B)

Select your schedule option (here we picked a daily schedule)

You can select a pre-defined schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) or a custom option allowing you to schedule it whenever you want to use CRON syntax.
Example of CRON schedule for "20:00 every Tuesday" = 0 22 * * 2

Finally, the "On demand" option won't schedule anything but will allow you to trigger the backup manually or using our API.
Define the backup retention, which is the number of backups you want to keep (kind of the history length of your backup if you prefer)

Choose the database you need to backup (C)

Select the type of your database, in this case "MongoDB"
Fill in the database connection form

Finalize and create

Pick the name of your backup (this is how it will be displayed in SimpleBackups interface) and where you want to store it.
Select your Storage (step 3)

That's it, your MongoDB backup is now ready and connected to your Dropbox account.

Run it once manually (using the "Run" backup button from the backups list) and you'll trigger your first backup!