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Percona Backup for MongoDB
What it is
Percona Backup for MongoDB (PBM) is a free, open-source tool for consistent backups and restores of MongoDB sharded clusters and replica sets, including point-in-time recovery using saved oplog slices. It is self-hosted and can be managed from a command-line interface or through a web interface with Percona Monitoring and Management. PBM supports logical, physical, and incremental physical backups, as well as backups of selected databases or collections; whole-database backups can include users and roles. Destinations include Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, MinIO and S3-compatible storage, filesystem servers, Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Object Storage, and Alibaba Cloud OSS. Backup types depend on MongoDB product, version, and storage-engine requirements. MongoDB Community and Enterprise Edition support logical backups only, while Percona Server for MongoDB can support all types when requirements are met. Physical backups require Percona Server for MongoDB 7.0 or newer and WiredTiger. PBM uses MongoDB authentication and authorization; Percona recommends systemd credentials rather than storing connection credentials in plaintext service files or environment variables.
For and against
For
- Free and open source
- Supports point-in-time recovery
- Offers command-line and PMM web management
- Supports multiple cloud and filesystem destinations
Against
- MongoDB Community and Enterprise support logical backups only
- Physical backups require Percona Server 7.0 or newer
- Physical backups require the WiredTiger storage engine
The verdict
PBM provides several backup types and destination options for MongoDB deployments, with recovery workflows available through its CLI or PMM. Check database edition, version, and storage-engine requirements to determine which backup types apply.
Who it suits
PBM suits teams operating MongoDB sharded clusters or replica sets who can manage a self-hosted backup tool. Its backup type and storage requirements make version and deployment checks important before use.
Plans and prices
Community
Open source backup tool · no price stated
Read 5 Oct 2026 · docs.percona.com
On the record
- Authentication
- PBM uses MongoDB authentication and authorization and requires a PBM user in the admin database for each replica set.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Backup types
- PBM supports logical, physical, incremental, and snapshot-based backup workflows, with availability depending on the deployment and configuration.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Company
- Percona says it has built open source database software and support since 2006.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- MongoDB Community and Enterprise Edition are supported for logical backups only; Percona Server for MongoDB supports all PBM backup types, subject to version and storage-engine requirements.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Credential security
- Percona recommends using systemd credentials for secure, encrypted, runtime-only access instead of storing MongoDB connection credentials in plaintext environment variables or service files.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- PBM supports physical backup and restore of data encrypted at rest, and does not store or show the encryption key as part of the backup.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Interface
- PBM is a command line tool with commands for managing database backup and restore operations.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- You can manage backups through the PBM command-line interface or through a web interface using PBM with Percona Monitoring and Management.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- The documentation identifies PBM 2.16.0, released September 24, 2026, as the latest release listed on the release notes page.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Percona describes itself as a global, remote-only company building open source database software and support; its about page says it has operated since 2006.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Notable requirement
- Physical backups require Percona Server for MongoDB 7.0 or newer and the WiredTiger storage engine.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- OCI authentication
- For OCI Object Storage, PBM supports user principal, instance principal, and OKE workload identity authentication.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- PMM integration
- Percona Monitoring and Management integrates with PBM workflows for creating and managing MongoDB backups.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Point-in-time recovery
- PBM can save oplog slices between backups to support point-in-time recovery.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Percona Backup for MongoDB (PBM) is a distributed solution for consistent backups of MongoDB sharded clusters and replica sets, with restores to a specific point in time.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Recent release
- PBM 2.16.0 added backup retention policies, experimental parallel uploads to Google Cloud Storage, and support for Debian 13 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Release security detail
- PBM 2.16.0 introduced software bills of materials in CycloneDX 1.6 format for releases.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Selective backups
- PBM can back up selected databases or collections; selective backups can include users and roles when backing up whole databases.docs.percona.com · read 5 Oct 2026
