Automated backup of Website and Databases?

Skeeter · 7 Jul 2009 at 21:36

Hi guys

I have a CMS website (Concrete 5) with all the databases etc that go with it. Occasionally things break and I need to restore it. At the moment it requires copyign files back and hoping it works. Wondering what you lot do about automated backups? I tried running some automated backups on the Apache server using cron jobs, but gave up when trying to setup my home PC as an FTP server to store the files. It just refused to connect.

So, how do you go about backing up your website?

Any help much apreciated!

JBod · 7 Jul 2009 at 22:38

Well first up you need somewhere separate to do it. If you cant do your home PC then you need somewhere else online to store it.

You are on the right track, just need to add a small bash script to cron that does a a rsync of your site and a mysqldump of your database. Can pipe it over ssh using passwordless ssh keys and yer laffin.

Just remember to have a cron on the receiving side that deletes backups after say 7 days so you dont end up filling up too much space on the other end

Skeeter · 9 Jul 2009 at 20:30

I got as far as having a script that ran to dump my sql databases and site files, worked to a remote FTP site but couldnt get it connecting to my PC. Gave up as I figured I was onto a looser. Looks like I was wrong though. Ill see if I can get my home server running as a proper FTP server, that way I dont have to worry about running out of space on a remote ftp server as much.

AbsenceJam · 10 Jul 2009 at 07:32

Must be a port forwarding/firewall issue so easily fixed. I can recommend the FileZilla server software, simple and light and there's good documentation to aid in troubleshooting.
You can easily check if it's visible with http://www.canyouseeme.org or by connecting from the shell at your host.