How to properly backup?
 

Don't laugh at me cause I am a real Noob when it comes to that sorta things. I would like to know where I can fully back my site up (no zipfile please) and store the file on my computer(a special thingy I have for backups)

Can anybody please explain me step by step for a full backup? Incl templates and all.

Backing up via a command line is more reliable than using something like PHPMyAdmin. :)

If you have SSH or Telnet access, then I would recommend backing up via a command line. If not, you may have PHPMyAdmin, if that's the case -- take a look here. However, this is only recommend with small databases, as time outs can occur.

You may also be interested in taking a look at this hack, which does an automatic (cron) backup of your database :)

Templates are included in the database backup.

The only reliable method of backing up your data is to use SSH a free SSH client would be Putty

After that login to your server via SSH with your account information, and enter commands like

tar -cvvf backup.tar /home/account/public_html/*

and

mysqldump -u USERNAME -p database_name > /home/account/database_backup.sql

Then download the backup.tar and database_backup.sql files to your computer.

The only reliable method of backing up and restoring a database is with shell access via telnet or ssh. This is because backing up with a PHP script like that in the Admin CP or phpMyAdmin can result in PHP timeouts errors and an incomplete backup file. Please see the instructions here:

Backup:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...nce_ssh_backup

Restore:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...ce_ssh_restore

P.S. If you don't have shell access, some people have also reported success with these scripts:

MySQLDumper:
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/index.php

MySQLHotxcopy:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...t=mysqlhotcopy

Bigdump:
http://www.ozerov.de/bigdump.php

If you have cPanel for your control panel go to backup and then after 5 minutes go into backup again download the backup file it backs up all your mySQL Databases all your ROOT Dictories everything! :)

I seriously wouldn't rely on that

Why? CPanel is excellent for things like that.

Ask TECK :rolleyes:.

What am I missing here? ;)

I've seen some posts where people have said that cPanel can create corrupted backups.

I have never had a problem with CPanel. Direct Admin has given me nightmares, though.

Personally, I wouldn't backup via cPanel. Much better and more reliable through shell access via telnet or ssh.

I put together my own worksheet/walkthru where I create a testvb environment then upgrade from vB36x to vB370whatever.
PM me if you would like a copy, it's not a professional write up but it may be of help to you.
~OZ

The problem is most hosts don't allow SSH or Telnet..what's an Admin to do? There must be more alternatives out there, surely?

I agree, I also take backups through Cpanel

The options (Maintenance/Database Backup, Backup database to a file on the server) in the vBulletin Admin CP are not recommended? What about on XP (NTFS) where I have full access to the server, simply using the option to Save to a path relative to the root and then manually moving the file????

Thanks in advance.

Bump

No using the vBulletin script is still not recommended.