Phuket Thailand

steve@thaib · #1 15-09-2005, 21:19

Has antbody any experience of backing up a forum in case of server errors? I recently had a server crash with my ISP and lost a forum, along with all of its history of course.

Is it possible to just 'get' the files from the server and hold them on my hard drive, if so I could just back it up regularly and not much would be lost if it ever happened again?

How big are forums? In terms of disc space, would it be practical? I know Nicke was looking into this recently, and am just wondering what the options are.

Any pointers appreciated.

LivinLOS · #2 15-09-2005, 21:26

You only need the database.. The rest can be rolled out easy its the content thats important..

What forum SW do you use ?? Usually regular backups of the MySQL database is enough and a one off 'site backup' at installtion after mods and tweaks..

steve@thaib · #3 15-09-2005, 23:17

SW would be? Sorry to show my ignorance.

So, if I save the whole forum off the server onto my hard drive, and then just back up the database file once a week or so, that would do the trick?

LivinLOS · #4 15-09-2005, 23:27

Let me preface this with I am not a web programmer or real forum whizz.. Just done this a few times and have 'some' ideas..

Yeah in theory... What forum SW do you use ??? Like this is an vBullitin forum.. I run a phpBB on soieasy.com etc..

My experience is usually with PHP and MySQL systems.. I have seen some running on ASP and other formats but never tried an install, to be honest phpBB / vBullitin (probably the best but not free) and invision are my fave formats.

For any of these its the MySQL database that holds the data.. Backing up the database backs up your forum content and can be restored to another forum install fairly easily.. The forum files on your webhost are not required to be backed up unless you are performing mods / hacks / etc.. Once forum runs correct for you back up your webhost data (once) then as often as you can back up your MySQL database to save the posts..

Nicke.. Thats about it isnt it ?? Never had a forum crash but I have DL'ed then deleted the online one and re upped my DB once for testing purposes..

steve@thaib · #5 16-09-2005, 01:54

Thanks for that.

It's a phpBB which comes bundled with the hosting package, I'm not a genius with these things but my guess seems to be not too far off. I will try backing up the DB files this weekend and see how I go.

I will have a look at soieasy.com, didn't realise it was yours.

LivinLOS · #6 16-09-2005, 10:20

Soieasy.com is only 'sorta' mine.. I was asked to make a site by Ott and Ning (dragon Kangaroo etc) and I did.. Really its thier site but no one would do anything and I like to play with new CMS's.. PHPNuke is actually really pretty simple (I am pretty pleased with the soieasy layout and interation.. Gallery .. Forum.. News modulkes.. etc)..

If you have any spare time I strongly reccomend you setting up your own phpBB forum once as a teaching process.. You can get free php / MySQL hosting if you hunt.. Then upload, unpack and install, set the MySQL up.. Learn how to use phpMyAdmin.. Link the database with the forum and config the forum through scripts (and secure it).. Now I have done a couple if I had fast access I reckon I could do a forum in a couple of hours (without graphics integration).. I had hosts provide built in scripts before and I learnt nothing about those scripts by using that.. doing it from scratch shows you how..

You could also install locally on your own machine using easyPHP (great app) that installs PHP / Apache / etc all on your own machine.. I have one machine in the house set up with EasyPHP... a telnet server... a ftp server etc so by addressing that local IP its like testing uploading to a online host (though my hosts are linux and the box I use in a windows so its not exact).. Be nice to set a SSL server on it to to mirror my pro hosting packages closer... I have learnt more using that demo box and toying than any other way..

stevem · #7 16-09-2005, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

Thanks for that.

It's a phpBB which comes bundled with the hosting package, I'm not a genius with these things but my guess seems to be not too far off. I will try backing up the DB files this weekend and see how I go.

I will have a look at soieasy.com, didn't realise it was yours.

Login to your control panel and then into mySQL, you should have an admin package available as well. If not ask your ISP, as it is unusual to be provided mySQL without it.

Nicke · #8 16-09-2005, 16:51

Many servers have PHPMyAdmin of whatever it was called, be be beware, due to timeout limits in HTTP, it can result in unfinished backups.

The best things is to do this from shell using mysqldump tool.

If you store the database in a database named forum, you just have to do

mysqldump -u username -p forum > db-backup.sql

-p will prompt for the password.

Then you can download the file to your own harddisk. I just purchased a backup server and I use rsync to copy files to another harddisk on another server.

To backup the forum, I just need a copy of the database and the directory containing the attachments. (Attachments can be in the file system or in the database, vBulletin support both methods.)

steve@thaib · #9 16-09-2005, 19:26

Thanks guys, I will give that a whirl today and let you know how I go. I do a website for the rugby club that my boy plays for and we lost the forum to a server problem a couple of months ago.

There was plenty of history on it, pretty active for what it is, and they were really disappointed to lose it all and have to start agian. I want to avoid that again if I can help it.

steve@thaib · #10 16-09-2005, 19:54

Got it, took less than five minutes to download the whole folder, so it will just sit on my hard drive now and I can restore it if we ever have the same problem.

Nicke · #11 16-09-2005, 20:07

Including a backup of the database I hope?

BTW, the main reason to use rsync and another server is that you can create a script to backup automatic and regulary (I havent yet) otherwise you may be lazy and then you sit there with a very old backup the day the server crash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

Got it, took less than five minutes to download the whole folder, so it will just sit on my hard drive now and I can restore it if we ever have the same problem.

steve@thaib · #12 16-09-2005, 20:32

Yep, got the database. I will have to remember to back it up regularly, but with the trouble I have had it will stick in my mind I think.

t0rn · #13 17-09-2005, 00:05

Blast from the past -

"Posted by Nicke on January 05, 2001 at 15:05:31:

Sorry!
Due to a server crash during christmas holiday
everything is erased!

Just start posting again!

Nicke."