---
title: Transferring your data from Dedibox to Elastic Metal
description: This tutorial provides updated information on migrating your existing data from a Scaleway Dedibox to an Elastic Metal server.
tags: dedibox elastic-metal migration
products:
  - dedibox
  - elastic-metal
dates:
  validation: 2025-03-06
  posted: 2022-01-25
  validation_frequency: 12
difficulty: beginner
usecase:
  - migration
ecosystem:
  - scaleway-only
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'


This tutorial provides step-by-step guidance for migrating your existing data from a Dedibox to an Elastic Metal server, ensuring improved stability, performance, and reliability.

We use **Duplicity** to encrypt the backup and upload it to Object Storage. Then, we download and decrypt the data on the Elastic Metal server.

<Requirements />

### Prerequisites
- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or appropriate [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission)
- An [SSH key](/organizations-and-projects/how-to/create-ssh-key/)
- A Dedibox server
- [Created](/elastic-metal/how-to/create-server/) and [installed](/elastic-metal/how-to/install-server/) an Elastic Metal server

## Creating an Object Storage bucket

1. Log in to the Scaleway console.
2. Click **Storage** on the side menu to view your buckets.
3. Click **Create a Bucket**, enter a unique name (lowercase alphanumeric characters only), and validate.
4. Ensure the correct **region** is selected (e.g., `s3.fr-par.scw.cloud`, `s3.nl-ams.scw.cloud`).

## Installing software requirements on the Dedibox Server

<Message type="note">
  To ensure entropy for generating a GPG key, install and run [Haveged](https://github.com/jirka-h/haveged).
</Message>

Run the following commands to update your system and install Duplicity:

```bash
apt update && apt upgrade -y
apt install -y python3-boto3 python3-pip haveged gettext librsync-dev pipx
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
```

### Installing Duplicity

Choose one of the following installation methods, depending on whether you want to install for all users or just the current user:

#### Install for all users (recommended)
```bash
sudo pipx --global install duplicity
```
This will install Duplicity in `/usr/local/bin/duplicity` and its dependencies in `/opt/pipx/venvs/duplicity`.

#### Install for current user only
```bash
pipx install duplicity
```
This will install Duplicity in `~/.local/bin/duplicity` and its dependencies in `~/.local/pipx/venvs/duplicity`.

For more information, visit the [Duplicity GitLab page](https://gitlab.com/duplicity/duplicity).

<Message type="tip">
  Always check the [Duplicity website](https://duplicity.gitlab.io/) for the latest version.
</Message>

## Creating a GPG key

1. Generate the GPG key:
    ```bash
    gpg --full-generate-key
    ```
    Use default settings:
    - Key type: **(1) RSA and RSA (default)**
    - Key size: **3072**
    - Expiration: **0 (never expires)**
    - Assign a name, email, and comment.
2. Retrieve the GPG Key fingerprint:
    ```bash
    gpg --list-keys
    ```

## Transferring the GPG key to the Elastic Metal server

1. Export the GPG private key:
    ```bash
    gpg --export-secret-key --armor "your-key-id" > ~/my-key.asc
    ```
2. Securely transfer the key:
    ```bash
    scp ~/my-key.asc root@<elastic-metal>:/root/
    ```

## Backing up your Dedibox

1. Create the necessary files and directories:
    ```bash
    touch scw-backup.sh .scw-configrc
    chmod 700 scw-backup.sh
    chmod 600 .scw-configrc
    mkdir -p /var/log/duplicity
    touch /var/log/duplicity/logfile{.log,-recent.log}
    ```
2. Add the following configurations to `.scw-configrc`:
    ```bash
    export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID="<SCALEWAY ACCESS KEY>"
    export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY="<SCALEWAY SECRET ACCESS KEY>"
    export SCW_BUCKET="s3://s3.fr-par.scw.cloud/<YOUR BUCKET>"
    export PASSPHRASE="<YOUR GPG KEY PASSPHRASE>"
    export GPG_FINGERPRINT="<YOUR GPG KEY FINGERPRINT>"
    export SOURCE="<PATH TO BACKUP>"
    export LOGFILE_RECENT="/var/log/duplicity/logfile-recent.log"
    export LOGFILE="/var/log/duplicity/logfile.log"
    ```
3. Backup script (`scw-backup.sh`):
    ```bash
    #!/bin/bash
    source .scw-configrc
    duplicity full --encrypt-key=${GPG_FINGERPRINT} ${SOURCE} ${SCW_BUCKET}
    ```
4. Run the backup:
    ```bash
    ./scw-backup.sh
    ```

## Restoring data on your Elastic Metal server

1. Install required packages:
    ```bash
    apt update && apt upgrade -y
    apt install -y python3-boto3 python3-pip gettext librsync-dev pipx
    python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
    sudo pipx --global install duplicity
    ```
2. Import the GPG key:
    ```bash
    gpg --import ~/my-key.asc
    ```
3. Restore script (`scw-restore.sh`):
    ```bash
    #!/bin/bash
    source .scw-configrc
    duplicity restore ${SCW_BUCKET} /destination/folder/
    ```
4. Execute the restore script:
    ```bash
    ./scw-restore.sh
    ```

<Message type="tip">
  Duplicity can also be used for **incremental backups**. See [How to back up your dedicated server on Object Storage with Duplicity](/tutorials/backup-dedicated-server-s3-duplicity/) for details.
</Message>