Web Site and Database Backup Tips

Keeping a local copy of your data is the best safeguard you can have for your hard work. Although we perform regular server backups for internal data recovery purposes, Gemstream does not offer data backup as a service itself. You should always keep a complete, up-to-date, local copy of your web site and databases.

How to backup your web site
You can backup your web site (.html and image files) by downloading your files from the server to your computer through an FTP program. Simply reverse the steps you followed for uploading your site and you'll create a backup copy on your home computer. Click here for directions on how to use an FTP program.

How to backup your MySQL database
You can backup your database through an SSH connection to the server. If you don't already have an SSH connection setup, click here to learn how.

Once you have connected to the server and are in Unix, you can run a MySQL Dump. This will compact the database into one file that you can download to your computer:

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqldump $database -u $user -p$password > /home/$user/somefile.dump

where...
$database = the database name
$user = your user name
$password = the database password (often the same password as the control panel)

After you have done this, you can then download somefile.dump through a normal FTP program.