Can journaling features be used to perform safe hot backups?

Yes.

Yes, journaling features in MongoDB can be used to perform safe hot backups. Journaling in MongoDB is a feature that ensures the durability of write operations. When journaling is enabled, write operations are first recorded in a write-ahead log (WAL) or journal before being applied to the actual data files. This helps in recovering the data in case of an unexpected shutdown or crash.

When performing a hot backup (backing up data while the database is still running), the journal files can be used to capture any writes that occurred during the backup process. This ensures that the backup is consistent and can be restored to a point-in-time, even if the backup process was ongoing during write operations.

To make use of journaling for safe hot backups, ensure that journaling is enabled in your MongoDB configuration. The relevant settings are typically found in the MongoDB configuration file, and you can set the journal option to true to enable journaling.

It’s important to note that while journaling provides durability and helps in hot backups, other considerations such as file system snapshots and backup strategies should also be taken into account for a comprehensive backup and recovery plan.