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Database Backup Generator

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Last Updated
12th o September, 2007

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INTRODUCTION
Although Database Backup Generator is designed to automatically back up your databases, and also perform manual backups on demand, there are still a few things you need to do in order to ensure your backups are safe and sound.

When doing a manual back up, it is recommended that every so often you open the zip file to make sure there is actually something in it. Technology is not perfect. When you receive your automatic backup notifications by email, there will be download links to your backup. Make sure you download these backups every so often to your hard drive.

NOTE: Typically, your database is in a different location than the rest of your site. Since your backups are not stored in the database - but in a directory called 'archives' on your website, then technically it will be safe if your database crashes.

The purpose of downloading is for double protection, just in case something happens to your web site.

Finally, log in to your control panel every so often to do two things:
1) Test your download and import links for functionality.
2) Make sure the new back ups actually are there. Again - technology is not perfect.

Remember - no matter what method you choose to back up your data, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure the validity of the back ups and to store them safely for future use. Database Backup Generator takes no responsibility for lost data, etc.

Installation is very simple and is only a few steps:

Unzip contents to your local hard drive.

Open your FTP program. Log in to the site you are installing to.
Drag the entire folder from your hard drive to your web site.
Setting Permissions to '777':

/archives (just the folder)
/sitearchives (just the folder)
/templates_c (just the folder)
/includes/settings.ini (just the file)
/includes/psettings.ini (just the file)
/includes/webpsettings.ini (just the file)

Navigate to the install file: www.yourdomain.com/dbg/install.php
If all done correctly, will get a success message.
Delete the install.php file.
Log in to Database Backup generator: http://www.yourdomain.com/dbg
User name - admin Password - pass
INSTALLATION - Long and Detailed Version:

Installation of Database Backup Generator is very simple. There are only a few steps, so you should be up and running in minutes! Let's move on . . .
1) Using Winzip or other compatible extractor, unzip the zip file you downloaded to your hard drive. It will extract into it's own directory structure.

2) Using your FTP program, log in to your server.

3) FTP the entire directory that you unzipped on to your site. Use the 'Auto' setting in your FTP software since some files need to upload in ASCII and some in Binary. Leave directory structure in tact.

NOTE: The default name for the directory is dbg. If you wish to call it something else, please do so now.

4) Using your FTP software, set the following folders/files to '777' permission:

/archives (just the folder)
/sitearchives (just the folder)
/templates_c (just the folder)
/includes/settings.ini (just the file)
/includes/psettings.ini (just the file)
/includes/webpsettings.ini (just the file)

5) Open your web browser. Navigate to the install.php file

Install Url: http://www.yourdomain.com/dbg/install.php
(if you changed the directory name from dbg, use that instead)

6) If everything is right, you will see a "Successful Installation" message. That's it!

Note: Once you have a successful installation, make sure to delete the install.php file

7) Set up a Cronjob. In your webhost panel, you SHOULD have the ability to set up a Cron to run the automatic backups. If not, an email to your web host will probably take care of it. Here's what the Cron should look like:

00 02 * * * /usr/bin/php /home/user/public_html/directory/cron.php
(You can set the frequency of the cron to whatever you like. The above example will run every night at 2 AM)

8) Open the index.php file in your web browser: http://www.yourdomain.com/directoryname You will be taken to the Log In screen. Enter the username admin and Password pass. You should change these first thing. See next step.

Installation Complete. Now let's go through the configuration:

9) Navigate to the 'Default Settings' screen. The settings should be self-explanatory, but we'll go through them one by one.

Email Address: Where to send your backup messages, etc.
*Mail Server: mail.yourdomain.com (or similar. Check with your web host)
*Mail Server Username: username@yourdomain.com or simply username (if required by your web host)
*Mail Server Password: The password. (if required by your web host)

*Note: You only need to fill in the previous three if your backups will not email.

Administration Settings: Choose the Database Backup Generator Username and Password.

That's it for your default settings. Let's go to your Project Settings. Click on New DB Backup Project to set up Database Backup projects.

To complete this setup, you WILL need the User Names and Passwords of the DATABASES you wish to back up. Make sure you have that handy.

Project Name and Project Description are pretty self-explanatory. Go ahead on fill those in.

Site Settings: Here's where we set up to download the databases. You will set up one for each database you want to back up. You can even back up your databases on your OTHER sites, IF your webhost's database settings allow for it. Let's get started . . .

- Site URL: The Site you want to back up your databases from. Required field. If you are backing up databases on the same site dbg is installed on, just put the URL here.
- Email Address: Where to send your backup messages, etc.
- *Mail Server: mail.yourdomain.com (or similar. Check with your web host)
- *Mail Server Username: username@yourdomain.com or simply username (if required by your web host)
- *Mail Server Password: The password. (if required by your web host)

Database Settings:
- Database Server: In most cases this will be 'localhost'. If not, check with your web host.
- Database User Name: Username of the database to be backed up.
- Database Password: Password of the database to be backed up.

Manual Archive Settings:
- Email Reports: You can set to Yes or No. This determines whether you want the backup reports sent to you. Hint - You should set to 'Yes'
- Archive Delivery: Choose Both, Send By Email or Download Only. This setting lets you decide if your manually created backups should be downloaded immediately, sent via email or both.
- Compress Archive Files: Set to Yes to zip up your backups.
- Max Size Archive . . .: Many servers have restrictions on the size file you can email. When you create Manual Backups and you select to Email the Archive, set the maximum size file you wish to send. (It's in Bytes, so a 2 MB file would be entered as 2000000.) If the file goes above this, it will automatically send an email with the download links instead.

Automatic Backup Settings:
- Send Download Reminder: Choose Do Not Send, Daily, Weelky or Monthly. This will send you a reminder email to download your most current backups. Just in case you forget ;)
- Days to Back Up: Select the days to back up.
- Months to Backup: Choose the months to back up.
- Number of Archives to Store: Set the number of backups you wish to store before over writing.
Note: You may be tempted to put some large number here. Remember that some of your backups could be rather large. They store on your server, so it DOES use your web space.

Database Listings:
- In order to see the databases for backing up, you must fill in the information above first. When you click Update, if the information is correct (Site URL, DB Username and Password) you will see the database(s) listed. Click on the Tickbox next to it, then click Update again.

HOW TO USE Database Backup Generator
1) Once you have set up your database backup projects, you are basically done. Provided your cron job is set up, you will start receiving your backup emails very soon. Once you receive these emails, remember . . . you MUST still download the backups to your hard drive to be totally safe. Inside the emails will be a link to each archive you are saving.

2) If you do not download the backups from the emails sent to you, then you will receive a reminder email. These emails also have the download links in them. USE THEM!!!

3) You can log in to your backup program whenever you wish and create an archive manually. To do this, simpy click on the Database Project List. Click Create Archive. Next, select the item to be archived. You can put in a description - not a required field. Then click Create Update. If you have set your settings to download, then make sure your popup blockers are turned off. In the manual archiving, you can also select to have the backed up files emailed to you as an attachment.

4) You'll note that in the Project Listings, you can edit your Project Settings too.

5) Not much left to do except play around with it and learn the best way to use it to fit your needs.

RESTORING YOUR DATA
In the event you need to restore your data or site, it is very simple to do with Database Backup Generator.

1) If you are restoring from your on line backups, just log in to your Admin Panel. On the Browse Archive screen, choose the database you want to restore and click the Restore link. It will then ask you if you are sure. Click Yes. That's it. Database restored!

2) If you are restoring from your local hard drive, follow these simple steps:

a) Click on the Project List.
b) Locate the project you wish to restore. Click the Upload Archive link.
c) Click the Browse button. Locate your file from your hard drive or disk.
d) Click the Upload Archive button.
e) Click the Home link. Locate the database you want to restore. Click the Import link. Click Yes to confirm your import.

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