Website Backups

Taking regular backups of your PC is recognised as being vitally important to protect against loss of valuable data. But how many of you are regularly backing up your websites? Remember that Village Internet is not responsible for keeping copies of your website and we recommend that regular backing up of your website should be a key part of your administration processes. Given that it's so easy to do, there is no reason not to do it. And here's how...

Task 1 - Start by entering  http://cp.file-servers.co.uk/login.cgi  into the Address field of your browser.  This will display your Control Panel (see picture below). Now enter your domain name and the password you received from Village Internet when you first purchased the Hosting Account.

Task 2 - When you've successfully logged on, your management panel will be displayed. Click on the Backup/Restore image shown in the Files section:

Task 3 - You will then be invited to perform a Full or Partial Backup. We suggest that if you're in any doubt as to which to choose, you should carry out a Full Backup by clicking on the Create Full Backup button:

...after which you should see the following screen displaying the progress of your backup:

Task 4 - Wait a few seconds for the backup file operation to be completed. When the following screen is displayed, click on Download your backup file

Task 5 - Now you will see a message box asking you what you want to do with your backup file. Click on Save and when prompted, confirm or change the filename and then select a location on your PC where you would like your backup file to be sent.

Task 6 - We then suggest that you check, by using the Windows Explorer or My Computer programs on your PC, to make sure the file has been successfully downloaded and stored. Depending on the Windows version you're using, you should even be able open the ZIP file and see the individual files that have been downloaded from the website. These will be an invaluable aid to restoring your website if ever needed.

Task 7 Optional - (MySQL Database Users Only)

If you have a MySQL database you will need to back this up in addition tp your website content. To do this, click on the MySQL Databases button in the Web Tools section of our management panel (see picture below). 

Task 8 Optional - (MySQL Database Users Only)

When you see the following screen, click the Now button under the heading Backup. Your database will then be downloaded to your PC just as your full backup would have been carried out.

Task 9 Optional - (MySQL Database Users Only)

In the message box (see below) click on Save. You will then be asked to confirm or change the filename, and select a location on your PC to keep your backup file. Once again, when you've completed a backup, we suggest you check your PC to make sure the file has been successfully downloaded.

Task 10 - Whether you just needed to carry out Tasks 1-5 or in addition Tasks 6-8, you should now have all your main website files backed up. However, this acton will not backup your email accounts and you should make separate arrnangements to back up both your account login details and your individual messages, in case you ever need to restore them.

And if you need to Restore your website...

In the event of a catastrophic failure of the website, you will simply need to upload the latest download (we assume you will be backing up the website on a regular basis) using the Restore facility which will appear on the screen shown in Task3 - (see below). Read the instructions under the heading Restore a backup and follow the option which is most appropriate for your needs.

And if you need to Restore your database...

And if you also have a MySQL database and need to restore it, go to the MySQL Databases screen (shown below), and click on the link under Manage MySQL Databases inviting you to restore your database and follow the instructions.