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Introduction to Pluton

What is Pluton?​

Pluton is a self-hosted backup management platform that simplifies automated, incremental backups across multiple devices and storage destinations. Built as a Progressive Web App (PWA), Pluton provides a centralized interface to create, schedule, monitor, and manage backups for your local server and remote devices.

Pluton leverages powerful open-source tools - Restic for secure incremental backups and Rclone for versatile cloud storage connectivity - wrapped in an intuitive web interface designed for both beginners and advanced users.

Pluton Dashboard

Core Features​

🎯 Centralized Backup Management​

Create and manage multiple backup plans from a single dashboard. Each plan can backup different sources to different destinations with unique schedules and retention policies. Learn more about Backup Plans

🔄 Incremental & Deduplication​

Pluton uses Restic to perform fast incremental backups with automatic deduplication. Only changed data blocks are stored, dramatically reducing storage space and backup time after the initial backup.

📅 Flexible Scheduling​

Schedule backups to run automatically at specific intervals - hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or custom cron expressions. Backup plans run independently with configurable retry mechanisms.

🌐 Multi-Device Support​

Backup your main Pluton server locally and connect remote devices through the lightweight Pluton Agent. Manage all backups from one central location, whether devices are on your local network or across the internet via MQTT.

🔒 Security & Encryption​

Optional AES-256 end-to-end encryption protects your backup data. Authentication uses JWT tokens, and all remote agent communications occur over secure MQTT connections on port 1883.

📦 80+ Storage Providers​

Connect to virtually any storage destination: local filesystems, AWS S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, Backblaze B2, pCloud, SFTP, and 80+ providers supported through Rclone integration. Explore Storage Options

📊 Progress Tracking & Logs​

Monitor real-time backup progress, view detailed execution logs, and track backup statistics including sizes, durations, and success rates.

🔔 Smart Notifications​

Configure email or webhook notifications for backup success, failure, or both. Stay informed about your backup health without constant monitoring.

🔁 Automated Retention & Pruning​

Define retention policies to automatically keep daily, weekly, and monthly snapshots while removing old backups to manage storage efficiently.

How Pluton Works​

  1. Install Pluton on your server using Docker or direct installation
  2. Add Storage Destinations by connecting to local drives or cloud providers (Setup Guides)
  3. Create Backup Plans that define what to backup, where to store it, and when to run (Managing Plans)
  4. Deploy Agents (optional) on remote devices for centralized backup orchestration
  5. Monitor & Restore through the intuitive web dashboard (Dashboard Overview)

The application consists of:

  • Backend Server: Node.js/Express REST API with SQLite database
  • Frontend: React-based PWA with offline capabilities
  • MQTT Broker: Built-in Aedes broker for agent communication
  • Backup Engine: Restic for backup operations, Rclone for storage

System Requirements​

Server Requirements​

  • Operating System: Linux, macOS, or Windows
  • Node.js: 18+ or Docker runtime
  • Disk Space: Varies based on backup metadata (typically < 1GB for application)
  • Memory: 512MB minimum for application
  • Network: Internet access for cloud storage (optional for local-only)

Storage Requirements​

  • Local storage or account with supported cloud provider
  • Sufficient space for your backup data plus deduplication overhead
  • Network bandwidth appropriate for your backup sizes

Remote Agent Requirements (Optional)​

  • Linux, macOS, or Windows device
  • Network connectivity to Pluton server (MQTT port 1883)
  • Restic and Rclone binaries (automatically managed by agent)

Deployment Options​

Deploy Pluton using Docker Compose for simplified setup and management. Includes automatic container restarts, volume management, and easy updates. Docker Deployment Guide

Manual Installation​

Install directly on your server for development or custom environments. Requires Node.js runtime and manual dependency management.

Supported Architectures​

  • x64 (Intel/AMD 64-bit)
  • ARM64 (for Raspberry Pi and ARM servers)