Backing up my forum.

[robbieswan]

Hi there, is there a way I can backup the forum on a regular basis easily, do I go to php admin and back up the databases?

 

[MattW]

Depends on how you want to back it up, and if you are backing up the database only, or all the files for the forum. Are you going to be storing the backups offsite on a different server / storage place?

 

[robbieswan]

I would like to backup everything really, I can store it on another server yes.

 

[MattW]

I personally have a VPS with Backupsy, and use that to store all my files on there. I installed Rsnapshot on there, and configured it to connect 4 times a day for full incremental backups. I also have another script which drops a copy of the database each night and copies that onto there as well.

 

[Amaury]

There are various methods to back up a forum. I personally use phpMyAdmin.

 

[whynot]

I personally use phpMyAdmin.

That is only for a small database reliable.
You think that you have a good backup but when you ever need it, it will fail you.

 

[Amaury]

That is only for a small database reliable.
You think that you have a good backup but when you ever need it, it will fail you.

What's considered a small database? The last backup I took, which was on Friday, was 395 MB.

 

[whynot]

What's considered a small database? The last backup I took, which was on Friday, was 395 MB.

I wouldn't use it for more than 40 MB.
Are you sure it was phpMyAdmin?

 

[Amaury]

I wouldn't use it for more than 40 MB.
Are you sure it was phpMyAdmin?

What I use? Yes.

 

[whynot]

What I use? Yes.

Hopefully that backup is not corrupted.

 

[Amaury]

Hopefully that backup is not corrupted.

Why would it be corrupt?

 

[Jeremy]

Downloading and generating a file of such a large size can be corrupt or fail with scripts creating them such as PHP.

 

[TPerry]

Why would it be corrupt?

If you are going to do something like like that (use phpMyAdmin) then I'd just install Sypex (http://xenforo.com/community/resources/sypex-dumper-backup-and-restore-your-database.1102/) and use it. Last time I used it it was working fine (but I do everything via rsync now).

 

[Amaury]

Downloading and generating a file of such a large size can be corrupt or fail with scripts creating them such as PHP.

Then wait. All this time I've been taking backups, all of them have been corrupted?

 

[TPerry]

Not guaranteed, but highly likely. Every large one I've ever done almost always had a corruption in it and would not restore.

 

[whynot]

Then wait. All this time I've been taking backups, all of them have been corrupted?

Unzip your backup on your computer.
Compare it's size to the database's size on the server.
Are they similar?

 

[Amaury]

Unzip your backup on your computer.
Compare it's size to the database's size on the server.
Are they similar?

I don't need to unzip it, as the backup file is already there. Where do I check the size on the server, though?

 

[whynot]

I don't need to unzip it, as the backup file is already there.

On the server? That's a problem.
When something's going on wrong on the server you will lose everything.

Where do I check the size on the server, though?

In phpMyAdmin click on the database, on the right bottom it should show around 400 MiB.

"The last backup I took, which was on Friday, was 395 MB."
How do you know its size?

 

[Amaury]

On the server? That's a problem.

On my computer.

"The last backup I took, which was on Friday, was 395 MB."
How do you know its size?

Spoiler

Anyway, server says 431.26 MB.

 

[whynot]

On my computer.
Anyway, server says 431.26 MB.

#1 The file could be corrupt.
#2 There is difference between MB and MiB. Isn't that figure from the server in MiB?