Joeychgo
05-17-2007, 01:04 AM
Before you perform a vBulletin upgrade or install a hack that affects the database, you should always backup your database.
The purpose of the backup is simple. If something goes wrong and your database becomes destroyed, you have a copy available. Without a backup, your data can be lost permanantly.
This tutorial only applies to you if you use cPanel. This is provided by your hosting company (if they offer it, not all hosts do)
A word of warning and caution. You should always check with your host to make sure you are performing the backup and downloading it correctly. This is very important to do correctly.
Generating a full backup
Overview
A full backup will backup all files needed to restore your account if it is corrupted, deleted, or moved to another server. Generating a full backup and saving it to a remote location can be a very safe move in case of problems with your account.
Steps
http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/images/cpanelbackup/cpanel_backup.jpg
To access the Backup Menu, click on the icon above the words Backup on the main screen of your cPanel interface.
Click on Generate/Download a Full Backup
Select the destination you wish to save the backup to from the drop box next to Backup Destination:
Enter your email address in the field next to Email Address:. An email will be sent to this address when the backup is completed.
If you are backing up to a remote server, place the server's name, your username, and your password on that server in the appropriate fields.
Click on Generate Backup to start the backup process.http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/images/cpanelbackup/Backup_Page.jpg
Now you want to download tha backup to your home computer.
Click on download a home directory Backup
Save the file to your computer.Its that simple.
Now, you can also download a database backup.
Download a MySQL Database Backup
Overview
This function will allow you to download all MySQL databases that are a part of your account. As these databases change frequently, you may require to download them more often than the files in your /home directory.
Steps
To access the Backup Menu, click on the icon above the words Backup on the main screen of your cPanel interface.
Click on the name of the database you wish todownload below the words Download a MySQL Database Backup
Save the file to your computer.A few notes about backups...
When you create a full backup, the files are stored on the root directory of your server, and will take up alot of space. You have to have enough extra space to hold the backup until you download it. Once you downloaded it, you can delete the backup file from your server. (you have a copy on your home computer already since you downloaded it there)
I recommend you perform a database backup at least once a week, making sure you download them to your home computer. Should something terrible happen, such as your server hard drive crashes or your site is hacked, you'll have a backup available at home to restore your site.
Note:
The BEST way to backup your database is via SSH/Telnet. Jelsoft explains how to do this in the vBulletin manual, but it can be a bit complicated for people not familiar : Backing Up The Database via SSH/Telnet (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_ssh_backup) You will need to have SSH (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/what_is_ssh) or Telnet (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/what_is_telnet) access to your site. You will need to check with your hosting company to see if this is available. You will also need an SSH/Telnet Client, such as PuTTy.
The purpose of the backup is simple. If something goes wrong and your database becomes destroyed, you have a copy available. Without a backup, your data can be lost permanantly.
This tutorial only applies to you if you use cPanel. This is provided by your hosting company (if they offer it, not all hosts do)
A word of warning and caution. You should always check with your host to make sure you are performing the backup and downloading it correctly. This is very important to do correctly.
Generating a full backup
Overview
A full backup will backup all files needed to restore your account if it is corrupted, deleted, or moved to another server. Generating a full backup and saving it to a remote location can be a very safe move in case of problems with your account.
Steps
http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/images/cpanelbackup/cpanel_backup.jpg
To access the Backup Menu, click on the icon above the words Backup on the main screen of your cPanel interface.
Click on Generate/Download a Full Backup
Select the destination you wish to save the backup to from the drop box next to Backup Destination:
Enter your email address in the field next to Email Address:. An email will be sent to this address when the backup is completed.
If you are backing up to a remote server, place the server's name, your username, and your password on that server in the appropriate fields.
Click on Generate Backup to start the backup process.http://www.vbulletin-faq.com/forum/images/cpanelbackup/Backup_Page.jpg
Now you want to download tha backup to your home computer.
Click on download a home directory Backup
Save the file to your computer.Its that simple.
Now, you can also download a database backup.
Download a MySQL Database Backup
Overview
This function will allow you to download all MySQL databases that are a part of your account. As these databases change frequently, you may require to download them more often than the files in your /home directory.
Steps
To access the Backup Menu, click on the icon above the words Backup on the main screen of your cPanel interface.
Click on the name of the database you wish todownload below the words Download a MySQL Database Backup
Save the file to your computer.A few notes about backups...
When you create a full backup, the files are stored on the root directory of your server, and will take up alot of space. You have to have enough extra space to hold the backup until you download it. Once you downloaded it, you can delete the backup file from your server. (you have a copy on your home computer already since you downloaded it there)
I recommend you perform a database backup at least once a week, making sure you download them to your home computer. Should something terrible happen, such as your server hard drive crashes or your site is hacked, you'll have a backup available at home to restore your site.
Note:
The BEST way to backup your database is via SSH/Telnet. Jelsoft explains how to do this in the vBulletin manual, but it can be a bit complicated for people not familiar : Backing Up The Database via SSH/Telnet (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_ssh_backup) You will need to have SSH (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/what_is_ssh) or Telnet (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/what_is_telnet) access to your site. You will need to check with your hosting company to see if this is available. You will also need an SSH/Telnet Client, such as PuTTy.
