diff --git a/.ansible/roles/elan.opencast_mariadb b/.ansible/roles/elan.opencast_mariadb
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..7244198
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.ansible/roles/elan.opencast_mariadb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/home/tabassum/my_work/maria_db/opencast_mariadb
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.yamllint b/.yamllint
index d5530ae..fc6c772 100644
--- a/.yamllint
+++ b/.yamllint
@@ -1,11 +1,36 @@
 ---
+# Yamllint configuration should be compatible with Ansible,
+# see https://ansible.readthedocs.io/projects/lint/rules/yaml/#yamllint-configuration
 
 extends: default
 
 rules:
-  line-length: disable
+  comments:
+    # https://github.com/prettier/prettier/issues/6780
+    min-spaces-from-content: 1
+  # https://github.com/adrienverge/yamllint/issues/384
+  comments-indentation: false
+  document-start: disable
+  # 160 chars was the default used by old E204 rule, but
+  # you can easily change it or disable in your .yamllint file.
+  line-length:
+    max: 200
+  # We are adding an extra space inside braces as that's how prettier does it
+  # and we are trying not to fight other linters.
+  braces:
+    min-spaces-inside: 0 # yamllint defaults to 0
+    max-spaces-inside: 1 # yamllint defaults to 0
+  # key-duplicates:
+  #   forbid-duplicated-merge-keys: true # not enabled by default
+  octal-values:
+    forbid-implicit-octal: true # yamllint defaults to false
+    forbid-explicit-octal: true # yamllint defaults to false
+  # quoted-strings:
+  #   quote-type: double
+  #   required: only-when-needed
+
 
 ignore: |
-  venv/
-  .roles/
   .cache/
+  .github/
+  venv/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 336cf2f..d173fdf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,6 +56,35 @@ If you want to inspect a running test instance use `molecule login --host <insta
 
 To test the role run `molecule test`.
 
+## Database Backups (optional)
+
+This role can (optionally) install a small backup setup using:
+- a backup script placed in `database_backup_output_path`
+- a `database-backup.service` + `database-backup.timer` (systemd)
+
+When enabled, backups are written as compressed dumps:
+`db-backup-<db>-<timestamp>.sql.gz`
+
+### Backup variables
+
+- `database_backup_enabled` (default: `false`) - Enable/disable the backup feature.
+- `database_backup_output_path` (default: empty) - **Required when** `database_backup_enabled: true`.Directory where the scripts and backup files are stored (e.g. `/var/backups/mariadb`).
+- `database_backup_schedule` (default: `*-*-* 05:00:00`) - systemd `OnCalendar` schedule for the timer.
+- `database_backup_keep` (default: `7`)
+  - Number of newest backups to keep **per database**. Older dumps are removed.
+- `database_backup_dbs`- List of database names to back up (e.g. `["opencast"]`).
+- `database_backup_owner` / `database_backup_group`- OS user/group that owns `database_backup_output_path` and the scripts.
+- `database_backup_user` / `database_backup_user_password`- MariaDB user/password used by the backup script.
+
+### Restore script
+
+A restore script is installed into the same output directory (next to the backup script).
+It is meant to be used manually when you really want to restore a dump.
+
+Usage:
+```bash
+<database_backup_output_path>/database-restore.sh <database_name> <backup_file>
+```
 ## License
 
 [BSD-3-Clause](LICENSE)
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 0b9bbfd..51a1fc1 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -10,3 +10,16 @@ database_root_user: root
 opencast_mariadb_max_connections: 512
 # set buffer pool size to ~80% of total memory if db runs on its own host
 opencast_mariadb_innodb_buffer_pool_size: "{{ ((ansible_memtotal_mb / 1024) * 0.8) | int }}G"
+
+
+# === Database backup feature (enabled) ===
+database_backup_enabled: false
+database_backup_output_path: ""
+database_backup_schedule: "*-*-* 05:00:00"   # Systemd OnCalendar format
+database_backup_keep: 7
+# list of databases
+database_backup_dbs:
+  - "{{ database_name }}"
+database_backup_owner: mariadbbackup
+database_backup_group: mariadbbackup
+database_backup_user: backup
diff --git a/molecule/default/converge.yml b/molecule/default/converge.yml
index 50f0e8f..fbbd6f9 100644
--- a/molecule/default/converge.yml
+++ b/molecule/default/converge.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
   vars:
     database_password: "1234"
     database_root_password: "5678"
-  tasks:
-    - name: Include opencast_mariadb
-      ansible.builtin.include_role:
-        name: opencast_mariadb
+    database_backup_user_password: "5432"
+  roles:
+    - elan.opencast_mariadb
diff --git a/molecule/default/verify.yml b/molecule/default/verify.yml
index 950871c..0efcf2c 100644
--- a/molecule/default/verify.yml
+++ b/molecule/default/verify.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
   hosts: all
   vars:
     database_password: "1234"
+  vars_files:
+    - ../../defaults/main.yml
   tasks:
     - name: Check MariaDB socket exists
       ansible.builtin.wait_for:
@@ -42,3 +44,58 @@
       ansible.builtin.fail:
         msg: Opencast database does not exist
       when: "query_databases.rowcount.0 != 1"
+
+    # ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    # Backup configuration (only when enabled)
+    # ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    - name: Verify backup configuration when enabled
+      when: database_backup_enabled | default(false)
+      block:
+        - name: Assert backups are enabled
+          ansible.builtin.assert:
+            that:
+              - database_backup_enabled | default(false)
+            fail_msg: "Backups are disabled; skipping backup verification."
+
+        - name: Ensure backup directory exists
+          ansible.builtin.stat:
+            path: "{{ database_backup_output_path }}"
+          register: backup_dir_stat
+
+        - name: Assert backup directory is present and writable
+          ansible.builtin.assert:
+            that:
+              - backup_dir_stat.stat.exists
+              - backup_dir_stat.stat.isdir
+            fail_msg: >
+              Backup directory {{ database_backup_output_path }}
+              is missing or not a directory.
+
+        - name: Check database-backup.service is installed and enabled
+          ansible.builtin.systemd:
+            name: database-backup.service
+            enabled: true
+            state: started
+
+        - name: Check database-backup.timer is installed and enabled
+          ansible.builtin.systemd:
+            name: database-backup.timer
+            enabled: true
+            state: started
+
+        - name: Slurp timer unit file for inspection
+          ansible.builtin.slurp:
+            path: /etc/systemd/system/database-backup.timer
+          register: timer_unit
+
+        - name: Assert OnCalendar line in timer unit matches schedule
+          ansible.builtin.assert:
+            that:
+              - "'OnCalendar={{ database_backup_schedule }}' in (timer_unit.content | b64decode)"
+            fail_msg: >
+              database-backup.timer does not contain
+              OnCalendar={{ database_backup_schedule }}.
+            success_msg: >
+              Timer unit file correctly contains
+              OnCalendar={{ database_backup_schedule }}.
diff --git a/tasks/backup.yml b/tasks/backup.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..332db3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/backup.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+---
+- name: Fail if backup enabled but no output path given
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: "database_backup_output_path must be set when database_backup_enabled = true"
+  when:
+    - database_backup_enabled
+    - database_backup_output_path | length == 0
+
+- name: Ensure backup OS user exists
+  ansible.builtin.user:
+    name: "{{ database_backup_owner }}"
+    state: present
+    system: true
+  when:
+    - database_backup_enabled
+    - database_backup_user != "root"
+
+- name: Ensure MariaDB backup user exists for each database
+  community.mysql.mysql_user:
+    name: "{{ database_backup_user }}"
+    password: "{{ database_backup_user_password }}"
+    host: "localhost"
+    priv: "{{ item }}.*:SELECT,LOCK TABLES,SHOW VIEW,TRIGGER"
+    state: present
+    login_user: "{{ database_root_user }}"
+    login_password: "{{ database_root_password }}"
+  loop: "{{ database_backup_dbs }}"
+  when: database_backup_enabled
+  no_log: true
+
+- name: Ensure backup output directory exists
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ database_backup_output_path }}"
+    state: directory
+    owner: "{{ database_backup_owner }}"
+    group: "{{ database_backup_group }}"
+    mode: "0750"
+  when: database_backup_enabled
+
+- name: Install backup script
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: database-backup.sh.j2
+    dest: "{{ database_backup_output_path }}/database-backup.sh"
+    owner: "{{ database_backup_owner }}"
+    group: "{{ database_backup_group }}"
+    mode: "0750"
+  when: database_backup_enabled
+
+- name: Install systemd service unit
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: database-backup.service.j2
+    dest: /etc/systemd/system/database-backup.service
+    mode: "0644"
+  when: database_backup_enabled
+  register: database_backup_service_unit
+
+- name: Install systemd timer unit
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: database-backup.timer.j2
+    dest: /etc/systemd/system/database-backup.timer
+    mode: "0644"
+  when: database_backup_enabled
+  register: database_backup_timer_unit
+
+- name: Reload systemd daemon (if timers changed)
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    daemon_reload: true
+  when:
+    - database_backup_enabled
+    - database_backup_service_unit.changed or database_backup_timer_unit.changed
+
+- name: Ensure backup timer is enabled and running
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    name: database-backup.timer
+    enabled: true
+    state: started
+  when: database_backup_enabled
+
+  # Restore database
+- name: Install restore script
+  ansible.builtin.template:
+    src: database-restore.sh.j2
+    dest: "{{ database_backup_output_path }}/database-restore.sh"
+    owner: "{{ database_backup_owner }}"
+    group: "{{ database_backup_group }}"
+    mode: "0750"
+  when: database_backup_enabled
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index e1e246b..1a45ae2 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -132,3 +132,10 @@
     - "localhost"
     - "{{ ansible_fqdn }}"
   no_log: true
+
+###############################################################################
+# database backup
+###############################################################################
+- name: Include backup setup tasks
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: backup.yml
+  when: database_backup_enabled
diff --git a/templates/database-backup.service.j2 b/templates/database-backup.service.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62e8c72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/database-backup.service.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Opencast Database Backup
+After=network.target
+After=local-fs.target
+After=remote-fs.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+User={{ database_backup_owner }}    
+Group={{ database_backup_group }} 
+ExecStart={{ database_backup_output_path }}/database-backup.sh
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/database-backup.sh.j2 b/templates/database-backup.sh.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9fa5d0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/database-backup.sh.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+DBUSER="{{ database_backup_user }}"
+DBPASS="{{ database_backup_user_password }}"
+OUTDIR="{{ database_backup_output_path }}"
+KEEP={{ database_backup_keep }}
+DBS=({{ database_backup_dbs | join(' ') }})
+TS=$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)
+
+# Loop through each database name
+for DB in "${DBS[@]}"; do
+  echo "Backing up $DB database to $OUTDIR/db-backup-${DB}-${TS}.sql.gz"
+
+  # Run pg_dump and compress into a .gz file
+  mysqldump -u "$DBUSER" -p"$DBPASS" "$DB" \
+    | gzip > "${OUTDIR}/db-backup-${DB}-${TS}.sql.gz"
+
+  # Remove older dumps, keep only the newest $KEEP
+  ls -1t "${OUTDIR}/db-backup-${DB}-"*.sql.gz \
+    | tail -n +$((KEEP + 1)) \
+    | xargs -r rm --
+done
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/database-backup.timer.j2 b/templates/database-backup.timer.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05ac1f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/database-backup.timer.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Run database backup daily
+
+[Timer]
+OnCalendar={{ database_backup_schedule }}
+Persistent=true
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=timers.target
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/templates/database-restore.sh.j2 b/templates/database-restore.sh.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53c6697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/database-restore.sh.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Usage: ./database-restore.sh <database_name> <backup_file>
+
+DB_NAME=$1
+BACKUP_FILE=$2
+
+if [ -z "$DB_NAME" ] || [ -z "$BACKUP_FILE" ]; then
+  echo "Usage: $0 <database_name> <backup_file>"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -f "$BACKUP_FILE" ]; then
+  echo "Error: Backup file $BACKUP_FILE does not exist."
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+DB_USER="{{ database_root_user }}"
+DB_PASS="{{ database_root_password }}"
+
+echo "Restoring database $DB_NAME from $BACKUP_FILE..."
+
+# Drop and recreate the database
+mysql -u"$DB_USER" -p"$DB_PASS" -e "DROP DATABASE IF EXISTS \`$DB_NAME\`; CREATE DATABASE \`$DB_NAME\`;"
+
+# Import the backup file
+if [[ "$BACKUP_FILE" == *.gz ]]; then
+  gunzip -c "$BACKUP_FILE" | mysql -u"$DB_USER" "-p$DB_PASS" "$DB_NAME"
+else
+  mysql -u"$DB_USER" "-p$DB_PASS" "$DB_NAME" < "$BACKUP_FILE"
+fi
+
+
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
+  echo "Restore completed successfully."
+else
+  echo "Restore failed."
+  exit 3
+fi
\ No newline at end of file