If you have installed a blog, forum or content management system (CMS) such as Joomla on your server you will have installed a mySQL database. One day without warning your server may crash and you’ll lose all your files. This is why it is important to create a backup of database and files.
If your web site only contains html files it’s very easy to restore them because they are stored on your computer. You simply need to upload them to the server.
Methods of backing up your SQL database
1. Web hosting providers – Most web hosting providers backup all files on their server. My server gets backed up daily, weekly and monthly. Check with your web host to see how often they do backups.
2. Backup software for your forum, blog or cms
Most CMS web sites that use databases have their own backup system software. e.g.,
a) WordPress has a plugin (http://www.ilfilosofo.com/blog/wp-db-backup/) where you can select how you want the backup to be delivered:
* Save to server : this will create a file in /wp-content/backup-*/ for you to retrieve later
* Download to your computer : this will send the backup file to your browser to be downloaded
* Email : this will email the backup file to the address you specify
b) Joomla has an extension called JoomlaPack (http://www.joomlapack.net/). It’s a component that creates a backup of your whole site (files and database) in the form of a single archive. In order to help you restore this, it also adds an installer. All you have to do to restore your backup is follow the regular Joomla! installation procedure: unpack the archive, upload files, point your browser to the installation script, follow the installation screens and you’re ready.
c) Simple Machines Forum (SMF) allows you to create a backup of the forum database within the admin panel.
3. Cpanel backup
Use the MySQL Database Wizard to download a zipped copy of your entire site or parts of it onto your computer.
The following are backed up and included in a zip file:
* Home Directory
* MySQL Databases
* Email forwarders configuration
* Email filters configuration
To access the MySQL Database Wizard login to:
www.domain.com/cpanel
files
backup wizard
save the files to your local drive
4. phpMyAdmin
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Herman Drost is the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW)
owner and author of Web Site Design, Web Hosting, Search Engine Optimization
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