Backing Up In Cpanel

[LF from MC]

Hi

 

This backing up, sure is confusing..

 

If I do a ...

 

Home Directory Backup...

 

Download a MySQL Databace Backup...

 

Down Aliases and Filters Backup...

 

Their not the same as a 'Fill Backups'?

 

If I do a full backup, do I put it in a folder, on my computer, and put it in the folder I have the cPanel in?

 

I checked out 'Beerman's post, but it's still confusing.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give me, I sure do need it on this subject.

[TCH-Don]

The full backup is generated on your site and very big.

You cannot restore it, the techs must restore it.

 

The home backup is much smaller and you download it

and can restore it your self.

The same goes for the Databases and Aliases and Filters (forwards)

You can also restore them in cpanel > backup.

[LF from MC]

Thanks Don,

 

Oh! dear, I which I knew how to explain what I'm trying to ask...

 

I do kind of understand that the full backup is very large, and would probably take forever

 

to download on my hard drive, and the techs must restore it. There's no problem with space,

 

because I have a lot if it on my hard drive.

 

And the...

 

Home Directory Backup...Download a MySQL Database Backup...Down Aliases and Filters Backup...

 

I can download, and restore myself..

 

Now what I'm trying to understand is, why would I want to do a 'Full Backups' if I can do the

 

others by myself??

 

 

For example, I have one webspace that has my 'Web Page Fun' Forum on it, and if I do the

 

downloads myself, and something happened to the forum, and I restore it, will everything be

 

in there, like it is now, or will I be missing parts of it, I mean will all the post,

 

pictures, avatar, and smiles be all in the restore??

 

The same with one of my other webspace, I have coppermine in there, so if I did the backup,

 

and restore myself with that one also, would all the pictures, and descriptions be there if I

 

did a restore??

 

Or is that what the 'Full Backups" does.

 

I guess I'm trying to understand what the difference is between the two. What does the

 

downloads and restores that I can do, miss, that a full backup doesn't miss.

 

Sorry, I hope I'm not getting carried away with this, I'm just trying to understand.

 

Thanks again Don.

Edited June 20, 2006 by LF from MC

[TCH-Don]

The do it your self way will have everything.

The Home directory backup is ALL your files including any email on your space.

With the databases and the filters if you have any

and the alias ( forwards)

you can restore everything.

 

The full backup is usefull to the techs.

[LF from MC]

Thank you, thank you Don, that's what I'm wanting to know.

 

I just fixed myself a hot fudge sundae, if I had a way I'd send you one.

 

I know, I know (food)

[Gail]

Hi Lorraine and Don,

 

I am going to say thank you to both of you - thank you to Lorraine for asking the question and thank you to Don for the explanation.

 

I do a backup of the Home Directory and the MySQL databases and I know I can restore them myself. I also know the techs have to restore the Full Backup. I was never sure what the difference was (in content) between the two - you have helped me to have a better understanding now Don. Thanks.

 

Gail

[LF from MC]

You're welcome Gail, now I don't have an excuse not to back up.

[namaste]

I do a backup of the Home Directory and the MySQL databases and I know I can restore them myself. I also know the techs have to restore the Full Backup. I was never sure what the difference was (in content) between the two - you have helped me to have a better understanding now Don. Thans

 

I posted the following to the "Looking For...Forum." ( and TCH-Bruce sent me along to this thread).

 

....I note that the PHPbb Forum ->Gen.Admin->Restore Database presents ONE route to a Backup. In an attempt to understand the 'mystery' behind PHPNuke, my reading/research suggests to me that the Nuke_Database would be a DIFFERENT database, and should also be a part of any comprehensive Backup on your site. Not to forget that the cPanel also has a Backup route provided, with 3 options; Home, MySQL and Aliases or Filters + a Restoration Route for each, though none of the two above provide Restoration routes , or is that via FPT only? Where can I post to get some assistance on my cloudy picture of Backup?

 

This thread in this Forum had helped somewhat BUT when Don refers to "techie" to whom is the nod given? I ask that because the techie who set up our site suggested that when I do a Backup I should also include the Nuke_database, AND from my vantage point that database is visible to me ONLY using PHPAdmin. Ergo, I am still 'cloudy' with respect to these latter parts of the Backups.

The full backup is generated on your site and very big.

You cannot restore it, the techs must restore it.

The home backup is much smaller and you download it

Is this FULL Backup via the PHPbb Forum and if so does it NOT include the Nuke_database, if not, then is the backup available via cPanel? Where is the "home backup"? I also note that when I use either cPane or FTP that my files there include several Backups with various dates as part of the file name. If Don were to give those Backups a specific name locator, would he refer to them as 'home' or where in all this lexicon do they fit?

 

Here's a link TCH-Bruce provide me with for a Backup Utility. [http://www.phpfreaks.com/script/view/11.php] Unfortunately that link makes certain assumptions about the depth and span of the knowledge of this numbie that is just not present..... at this time.

 

Appreciate any help you folk can provide?

George

[TCH-Bruce]

Ok, first, the Full Backup is performed in cPanel. It is everything the techs (support personnel) would use to restore your site completely. You cannot restore a full backup on your own.

 

If there is a link in your PHP_Nuke admin panel to backup the database that's all you are going to get. You could also back up that database using the cPanel backup function which you could also restore yourself through the cPanel backup/restore panel.

 

The dbsender script I linked to allows you to set up a cron job through cPanel to dump your database and email the backup copy to you. It can also FTP it to another location if you have one. You simply modify the script with your database information and create a folder in your webspace to hold the backup to be sent.

[namaste]

Ok, first, the Full Backup is performed in cPanel. It is everything the techs (support personnel) would use to restore your site completely. You cannot restore a full backup on your own...... SNIP remainder

 

Thank you Bruce. One Finally query. When you state, "You cannot restore a full backup on your own.."... does that mean even when it says you CANNOT delete someone with God Status and you know that in Nuke_config you CAN do that and you have that access, that still does not allow you to do a FULL Backup / aka (?) full restoration, because that would be restricted to TCH. Am I correct here? Just attempting to understand the flow and sequence of my site. Hope I haven't posted anything a script bunnie would find 'useful'.

 

Thank you ... Yet again.

[TCH-Bruce]

You are confusing site backups with database backups. A full site backup can only be restored by a TCH tech.

 

If you remove something from a database that you have admin privledges over it's gone unless you have a backup of the database to restore.

[namaste]

You are confusing site backups with database backups. A full site backup can only be restored by a TCH tech.

Thank you Bruce, but I'm still attempting to sort through the terms being used (i.e. full, site, database) and apply them to the specific task. Would site backup be synonymous with 'site restoration' to a TCH tech?

 

In light of the various Backups I noted above in my earlier post, I can appreciate they would be 'database backups' as some of them are 'out front' as it were. However, when I click the Backup Module in my cpanel, I'm presented with a window which starts with , " Full Backup" consisting of Home Directory ,MySQL Database Backup, & Download Aliases or Filters Backup, and the option opposite each to <Restore> via Browse or Upload.

The caveat below the Full Backup title states; "Note: You cannot restore these backups, they can only be restored by your administrator." As I have Administrative status ( aka admin priviledges yes??? ) on the site, is the reference caveat to TCH administrator, if not then why could I not restore the backups? It's just that I can't fathom someone with 'non-administrative status' having access to the many components of cpanel less 'Full Backup' ..... well other than an illegal introusion to a site.

 

If you remove something from a database that you have admin privledges over it's gone unless you have a backup of the database to restore.

 

May I say, 'yes' and 'no' in that I did once use phpMyAdmin to remove a redirector from the Nuke_config sql table. In addition that person had inserted himself into the nuke_authors with God Status. I also deleted that from the 'nuke_database', and applied necessary patches. If that person could add himself, then I believe I too would have been able to add to the nuke_authors, ergo backup of that database would not be necessary to 'restore'. Or, am I 'apple and oranges' again?

 

AND, I am very appreciative of the help I've been receiving in these forums from yourself and others. Perhaps TCH might add some detail in their Tutorial Sections with respect to Backups. I've gone through most of them and found the sections quite useful.

 

Thank you and make a nice day.

[TCH-Bruce]

The caveat below the Full Backup title states; "Note: You cannot restore these backups, they can only be restored by your administrator."

This is the TCH techs can only restore from a full backup as they are the server administrators.

 

A Home Backup is everything in your web space less any databases, aliases and filters. These you can restore yourself. A Full backup includes the databases, aliases and filters but requires you upload the backup and have a tech overwrite your existing account with the contents of the backup.

 

You are mixing apples and oranges again. Yes, you are the administrator of your databases. But the tech are the administrators of the servers.

[namaste]

This is the TCH techs can only restore from a full backup as they are the server administrators. A Home Backup is everything in your web space less any databases, aliases and filters. These you can restore yourself. A Full backup includes the databases, aliases and filters but requires you upload the backup and have a tech overwrite your existing account with the contents of the backup.

You are mixing apples and oranges again. Yes, you are the administrator of your databases. But the tech are the administrators of the servers.

 

 

EUREKA ! Ain't it nice when that dang blasted Light finally goes ON! Now if only I knew how to frame my question in the first post I might have avoided all those bits and bytes I've consumed on this Serveer.

And, I'm going to assume that the process of a Full Backup would be the preparatory step to a 'full restoration'.

 

Thank You and

Kudos to you Bruce -

[TCH-Bruce]

Anytime I make significant changes to my website I do a full backup. Other than that I only backup the database regularly since that is the part that is constantly changing.

[LF from MC]

Just wondering, how long does a full backup take?

[TCH-Don]

It depends on how big your site is.

I have only done the full backup once and it took a long time for me.

You get an e-mail when its done, so you can go to your site and download it.

 

The home directory backup has all the files,

so I don't see the use in the full backup for me.

 

It only takes a short time to download the home directory backup

and I download my databases regularly anyway.

[LF from MC]

The home directory backup has all the files,

so I don't see the use in the full backup for me.

 

Thanks Don,

 

I think I'll just stick with the home directory also.

[TCH-Bruce]

I don't understand Don, it shouldn't take much longer to download a full backup than it does to download a home backup and all your databases. At least on my connection it didn't take any longer.

[namaste]

. . . . it shouldn't take much longer to download a full backup than it does to download a home backup and all your databases. At least on my connection it didn't take any longer.

 

Agree. Not understanding which backup served which purpose, I did not take any chances so I did a Backup where ever I saw a Backup 'button'. Albeit, whether full or home dir. the time involved was insignificant. I just assume folks use a high speed Internet connection.

[TCH-Don]

I was on a dial-up then and there was a difference

because the full backup is a bit larger.

 

Of course on high speed there isn't much difference.

But its a personal preference, with the home directory, I can restore it.

[LF from MC]

This is great, thank you everyone for your input.

 

Ok, lets see what I have. I can do...

 

Home Directory Backup...

 

Download a MySQL Database Backup...

 

Down Aliases and Filters Backup...

 

I can back these up, (Database Backup) and put each in there own folder, and put a name and date to them, then put them in the folder I have my cPanel in. then if needed, I can restore them myself.

 

I can do a 'Full Backup', (Site Backup) and I'll get an e-mail letting me know when its done, so I can go to my site and download it. and I'll put this in a folder, and put a name and date to it, and also put it in the folder that I have my cPanel.

 

I only use the 'Full Backup' if I do a major change to my website. It will take a little longer if you have high speed Internet connection, but!, it will take a lot longer if you have 'Dial-up'.

 

And only the the Tech can restore the 'Full Backup'

 

 

 

Thank you again

[Samrc]

By Jove, I think she has it!