3 files changed, 42 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/26881-backup-fails-if-data-changes.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/26881-backup-fails-if-data-changes.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..00bf105560b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/26881-backup-fails-if-data-changes.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+title: Add `copy` backup strategy to combat file changed errors
+merge_request: 8728
+author:
diff --git a/doc/raketasks/backup_restore.md b/doc/raketasks/backup_restore.md
index b4e13f5812a..a5b8cd6455c 100644
--- a/doc/raketasks/backup_restore.md
+++ b/doc/raketasks/backup_restore.md
@@ -84,6 +84,28 @@ Deleting tmp directories...[DONE]
 Deleting old backups... [SKIPPING]
 ```
 
+## Backup Strategy Option
+
+> **Note:** Introduced as an option in 8.17
+
+The default backup strategy is to essentially stream data from the respective
+data locations to the backup using the Linux command `tar` and `gzip`. This works
+fine in most cases, but can cause problems when data is rapidly changing.
+
+When data changes while `tar` is reading it, the error `file changed as we read
+it` may occur, and will cause the backup process to fail. To combat this, 8.17
+introduces a new backup strategy called `copy`. The strategy copies data files
+to a temporary location before calling `tar` and `gzip`, avoiding the error.
+
+A side-effect is that the backup process with take up to an additional 1X disk
+space. The process does its best to clean up the temporary files at each stage
+so the problem doesn't compound, but it could be a considerable change for large
+installations. This is why the `copy` strategy is not the default in 8.17.
+
+To use the `copy` strategy instead of the default streaming strategy, specify
+`STRATEGY=copy` in the Rake task command. For example,
+`sudo gitlab-rake gitlab:backup:create STRATEGY=copy`.
+
 ## Exclude specific directories from the backup
 
 You can choose what should be backed up by adding the environment variable `SKIP`.
diff --git a/lib/backup/files.rb b/lib/backup/files.rb
index cedbb289f6a..247c32c1c0a 100644
--- a/lib/backup/files.rb
+++ b/lib/backup/files.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ module Backup
       @name = name
       @app_files_dir = File.realpath(app_files_dir)
       @files_parent_dir = File.realpath(File.join(@app_files_dir, '..'))
+      @backup_files_dir = File.join(Gitlab.config.backup.path, File.basename(@app_files_dir) )
       @backup_tarball = File.join(Gitlab.config.backup.path, name + '.tar.gz')
     end
 
@@ -15,7 +16,21 @@ module Backup
     def dump
       FileUtils.mkdir_p(Gitlab.config.backup.path)
       FileUtils.rm_f(backup_tarball)
-      run_pipeline!([%W(tar -C #{app_files_dir} -cf - .), %W(gzip -c -1)], out: [backup_tarball, 'w', 0600])
+
+      if ENV['STRATEGY'] == 'copy'
+        cmd = %W(cp -a #{app_files_dir} #{Gitlab.config.backup.path})
+        output, status = Gitlab::Popen.popen(cmd)
+
+        unless status.zero?
+          puts output
+          abort 'Backup failed'
+        end
+
+        run_pipeline!([%W(tar -C #{@backup_files_dir} -cf - .), %W(gzip -c -1)], out: [backup_tarball, 'w', 0600])
+        FileUtils.rm_rf(@backup_files_dir)
+      else
+        run_pipeline!([%W(tar -C #{app_files_dir} -cf - .), %W(gzip -c -1)], out: [backup_tarball, 'w', 0600])
+      end
     end
 
     def restore