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Website Backup - 5 Ways to Backup Your Files So You Don't Lose Them
By Herman Drost

Why do I need to backup my website?
How often do I need to create backups?
What are the best ways to backup my website files?These are a few of the questions site owners often ask when running a website. Even though your web hosting provider may backup their servers it's always good to backup your own website files and store them on your computer.

A static site built with Dreamweaver or other web editing software stores files on your computer (not in a database) so you'll already have a backup of your original files. When upgrading or editing your files always keep a copy of the original file folder on your computer.

Database driven websites (e.g. WordPress, Joomla, etc) use a database to store files on the server. These databases need to be regularly backed up in case you have a disaster and lose your files.

1. Why do I need to backup my website?

Transferring website files from one host to another
Upgrading your website (e.g. database files, email accounts, site files)
Computer hard disk crashes
Web hosting provider forgets to backup the server
Web host company experiences a disaster (e.g. fire destroys the servers)
Your house or business experiences a disaster ( e.g. fire destroys your computer or its stolen)
Someone hacks into your website and messes up your files2. How often do I need to create backups?

Create a backup every time you upgrade your website. For example if you have a WordPress blog it constantly needs to be upgraded to stay ahead of security fixes. Every time you upgrade your site create a backup of your website files, database and store them on your computer. If you get website errors or are missing some files during the upgrade you can always return to the original configuration.

3. What are the best ways to backup my website files?

Web hosting provider

Most hosting companies provide daily, weekly and monthly backups. Ask your web host how often they backup their servers. One time when I accidentally deleted all the files on the server my web host was able to restore all the files within one hour. This saved me a lot of time and headaches.

Cpanel backup

If your website is hosted on a Linux server (most are) you'll have a web hosting control panel called Cpanel. Within Cpanel look for the Backup Wizard. It enables you to download a zipped file of your entire website including the database. Save the files to your desktop or create a special folder that can easily be found on your computer.

phpMyAdmin

This backup tool exists within your Cpanel. It enables you to backup your MySQL database. For example WordPress and Joomla both use a MySQL database to store your files.

How to Backup mySQL Database Using phpMyAdmin

Login to cPanel
Go to MySQL databases --phpMyAdmin
Select the database running your website
Click on export
Click on "select all" to select all the tables
Select "SQL" -- for output format.
Check "save as file"
Select gzipped and click "Go" to download the file to your desktop
Save it in a folder named "backup."
Include the date of your backups so you know when you read the last one (e.g. backupMarch2010)
Schedule your backups for the first of every monthWordPress backup

Google "WordPress Backup Plug-in to easily backup your WordPress database files. The plugin files must be installed in your website's plugin's folder stored on the server. The plugin is then activated within your WordPress administration panel. You'll also need to make a copy of all the other files stored on the server.

Off-line backup

Purchase an off-line backup service (e.g. Carbonite) in case your computer hard disk crashes, is set on fire, or gets stolen. An offline backup service enables all your computer files to easily be restored to a new computer by downloading them from the web.

Use the methods mentioned above to backup your website on a regular basis so you won't have to worry about losing your files.

About the Author:
Get an affordable, reliable web hosting service that's packed with all features you'll ever need by visiting: Maryland Web Hosting Herman Drost is the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) owner and author of http://www.DrostDesigns.com.