---
title: "Introduction"
manual: "T3Vault"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/codemacher/t3vault:introduction@main"
source: "Introduction/Index.rst"
rendered: "2026-10-01T12:10:44+00:00"
---

# Introduction {#introduction}

## What does it do? {#what-it-does}

T3Vault creates encrypted backups of a TYPO3 installation (files and database)
and helps you restore them — including on a different server after a disaster.
The package is published as `codemacher/t3vault` (extension key `t3vault`).

The extension ships two layers:

1.  A TYPO3 **backend module** (admin-only) that embeds the T3Vault UI and can
    set the standalone password.
1.  A **standalone application** under `<web-dir>/t3vault` that also runs
    **without** a working TYPO3 instance (disaster recovery).

![T3Vault dashboard with backup statistics, quick actions and recent jobs](../Images/screenshot-dashboard.png)

After each completed backup, T3Vault seals integrity data so later
modifications can be detected:

-   SHA-256 hashes of backup artefacts in `integrity.json`
-   optional HMAC bound to the site secret
-   an OpenTimestamps proof (`integrity.json.ots`) that **time-stamps** the
    seal on the **Bitcoin blockchain** via public calendars — independent of
    TYPO3, the hosting provider, or whoever stores the archive (no payment or
    currency transfer)

On restore, the installer can **convert the TYPO3 layout**:

-   **Composer → classic/legacy** (document-root layout) when the target has no
    Composer workflow
-   **Classic → Composer** (e.g. for DDEV or modern project structure)

## Features {#features}

-   OpenTimestamps integrity seals time-stamped on the Bitcoin blockchain to
    detect tampering after the backup was created
-   Layout conversion on restore (Composer ↔ classic/legacy)
-   Full and fileadmin-only backups (Composer and classic TYPO3 layouts)
-   AES-256 encrypted ZIP parts (shared backup password)
-   Database dump (`database.zip`, AES-256) with mysqldump or PHP fallback
-   Downloadable `.t3vault.tar` archives plus installer / DDEV setup script
-   Browser-independent backup processing (server-side self-invocation)
-   Integrity verification in the UI, via CLI / PHAR, or with the official
    OpenTimestamps client
-   HTTP proxy support for calendar traffic

## Target groups {#target-group}

-   **Administrators** who need reliable backups and offline restore
-   **Agencies / hosting** teams moving sites between environments — including
    Composer sites that must land as classic/legacy on the target
-   **Security-conscious operators** who want an independent OpenTimestamps
    time stamp (Bitcoin blockchain) that a backup was not altered after sealing

## Compatibility {#compatibility}

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| PHP | 8.2 – 8.5 |
| TYPO3 | 13.4 – 14.x |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |