Site Maintenance

I have a few questions about site maintenance.

1.How often do you do site and database backups?

2.Do I just go offline mode even if there are customers online? Do they just get kicked?

We opened the store yesterday and I haven't been able to catch a time when the store doesn't have people in it.
It's been busy and I'm worried about backing up the db but I didn't want to just close the shop if people are midshopping. What do I do?

Backups should be done daily ...

If you have activity in the database you want that activity current ...

Broken sites can happen in a moment from now or months from now or never ...

Keep current backups of your database and website and you can always rebuild back to at least yesterday ...

If you get the Backup MySQL add-on in the Downloads, you can use this to backup your site and download that backup to your computer to have both online/offline backups ...

Rumor has it your hosting site will also have backups but it is best to rely on your ownself rather than others ... :cool:

NOTE: the Website Maintenance has a switch in it for turning the site off ...

I usually use a message prior to bringing the site down for about an hour ... or put one up that says it will be down from such and such a time ...

Then just set to True to turn it off ...

NOTE: adding your IP Address that you see in the Admin above the menubar allows you to access the site when down ...

It is a good idea to create a demo/play site for yourself:
/v1371

Make a new database:
v1371

Now install a clean v1.3.7.1 using this database and directory ... and include the demo products ...

Now practice ... practice ... and practice some more ...

Test out features that you want to try ...

Look at how products have been setup or how settings are used ...

Stormshade:

I have a few questions about site maintenance.

1.How often do you do site and database backups?

Daily, weekly and monthly. Don't want no risks :)

Shirley

Ok, Thank you. I need to do this soon!

When I put the site maintenance time down and it eventually gets to that point to go offline but there are customers who may not be paying attention to the notice will they just be kicked off?
What if they happen to be mid order?

Sorry!!!!!!!
One more question....actually just confirming.........

It would only be required to go down for maintenance for backups and file changes/ upgrades............. Correct?

I can work on customer orders and status without a problem to customers currently in the store?........... Correct?