What should I backup offline?

[douglerner]

Now that I have started making "custom" folders hither and thither, next to the "classic" folders, to hold my customizations, what should I be doing on a daily basis to backup my site offline?

Is there a particular hierarchy that is recommended to download and save regularly?

Thanks,

doug

[Ajeh]

The idea of have your site both on your computer and on your server is so that if you deleted your whole site on the server, you could reload everything from your computer ...

If you maintain this "clone" of your site on your computer you are always current and up to date ...

To back this up to CD is a good idea on a regular basis like anything else ...

In theory, unless you make a change on your computer that you load to your site on the server ... the files are always matched or synched ...

NOTE: most hosting sites are not backing up your site for you but rather your database ...

As to your database ... a regular backup of your database is also a good idea ...

Backing it up with the Backup MySQL in the Downloads ... Admin Tools ... at the top of your screen would be an excellant add-on ...

1 this generates a backup on your site by date/time

2 you can download the backup to your computer and maintain a copy

In theory, should something happen, your hosting site should have a backup for you in the event of damage to your database ... but, to be safe, you want to maintain your own backup regiem to protect your site ...

CDs are cheap ... get a stack of 100 of them and start making your backups ...

[douglerner]

The idea of have your site both on your computer and on your server is so that if you deleted your whole site on the server, you could reload everything from your computer ...

If you maintain this "clone" of your site on your computer you are always current and up to date ...

To back this up to CD is a good idea on a regular basis like anything else ...

In theory, unless you make a change on your computer that you load to your site on the server ... the files are always matched or synched ...

NOTE: most hosting sites are not backing up your site for you but rather your database ...

As to your database ... a regular backup of your database is also a good idea ...

Backing it up with the Backup MySQL in the Downloads ... Admin Tools ... at the top of your screen would be an excellant add-on ...

1 this generates a backup on your site by date/time

2 you can download the backup to your computer and maintain a copy

In theory, should something happen, your hosting site should have a backup for you in the event of damage to your database ... but, to be safe, you want to maintain your own backup regiem to protect your site ...

CDs are cheap ... get a stack of 100 of them and start making your backups ...

So you recommend I start by backing up the entire site first (there seem to be hundreds, if not thousands of files) and then making changes offline and uploading them to keep them in synch from then on, right?

Where is this "backup my sql" feature? I can't seem to find it. Is that something here or insize zc?

Thanks,

doug

[Ajeh]

You want to get the Backup MYSQL Plugin by clicking the Download link at the top of your screen ... then click the Admin Tools ... then look at all the pretty downloads ...

And voila! Backup MYSQL Plugin is on there just waiting for you ...

This is a plug and play program ... meaning that it is setup so that you just load the files to your site and it will magically appear in your Admin ... Tools ... menu for you without changing code ...

This works with 97.5% of all hosting sites ...

You do want your files in synch with what is on the server ...

Using a good FTP program, make a directory on your computer such as:
c:\internet\website\zencart_livesite

Download all files into that from your site ...

I use FlashFXP FTP software and UltraEdit for editing files and such ... then I have Beyond Compare from scootersoftware.com that I can compare my files to new versions, or overrides to originals, or do an FTP compare of my computer to my site on the server, etc. etc. etc.

Having an environment or workspace setup to make managing your site easier is the key ...

Take the time to get all your ducks in a row ...

[douglerner]

You want to get the Backup MYSQL Plugin by clicking the Download link at the top of your screen

Thanks!

doug