Host to Host backup possible?

[henry2]

I run two websites "A" and "B", hosted on two completely different hosting services.

My hosting plan for "A" includes unlimited space and transfers, and I have SSH access.

As for "B", I only have ordinary FTP access and typical web-based control panel operations, in particular, an ordinary File Manager.

Is there any way I can back up website "B" to my unlimited space on "A"? Possibly getting higher transfer rates between two hosts than my to-the-home DSL?

Website "B" is data-heavy, 50+GB, so such a trick may be the only practical method of doing a full backup of that site. This site needs a major overhaul, so a full backup seems very necessary.

I tried logging on to SSH on "A" and opening an FTP connection to "B". Failure. I used exactly the same connection information as I routinely use to access "B" for authoring purposes.

Suggestions? Alternatives?

TIA,

Henry

[explorador]

If you have Cpanel you can do a backup via FTP from host to host. The server works and then lets you know when its done.

I remember I saw here on the forums some guys talking about scripts dumping the database to files and compressing their directories to send the backup via ftp. I don't have the link but I know it can be done.

[henry2]

explorador:

Thanks for your response to my post.

Hosting "A" provides cPanel, but --unfortunately-- Hosting "B" does not. Not good enough, I'm afraid.

I will search these forums for the backup-by-ftp messages you remember.

Thanks,

Henry

[explorador]

Just remember, if hosting A has Cpanel you can do a backup from A to B even if B doesn't have Cpanel. As for B to A... lets search about it...

[henry2]

explorador:

Thanks for your response to my post.

Among all the sites I own, I'm definitely in a position to verify your idea that a site with Cpanel (Site "A") can back up to a site without Cpanel (Site "B").

But not immediately -- because I really need to find a way to back up Site "B" as quickly as possible. It's been hacked. I need to get what I can from it and shut it down.

Thanks,

Henry

[explorador]

henry2, remember you can still do a backup from A to B. It doesn't require cpanel on both.

As for your B server to server A, you can create a zipped or tar file of your whole server vía ssh or via the admin panel itself, most of the panels allow a file manager with compress-expanding tools.

If you like the command line, download putty and try to get to the command line. Also, check your server admin panel, most of the panels offer an online tool (java, most of them) to get to the command line.

As for transferring your file from server to server (no cpanel needed on both), get to the command line on the server where you want to transfer the backup (destination server)

Then try

wget http://example.com/your-big-backup-file.zip

This way your backup will be copied. Check first with a test file before trying any 5G files... Good luck

[edited by: phranque at 8:08 am (utc) on Mar. 31, 2009]
[edit reason] exemplified url [/edit]

[henry2]

Explorador:

Thanks for your patience.

Yes, now I get it, and I tested the concept, transferring a 9mb file from B to A in a very short time. Excellent!

OK, I understand the back-up method. (I didn't think of using the admin panel on B to compress entire directories.)

But I don't see any way on A's cpanel to transmit by host-to-host FTP. What cpanel utility do you use?

Thanks,

Henry

[henry2]

Explorador:

D'oh!

The admin panel on B will compress no more than 20mb at a time. This won't help much for a 50GB payload.

Hmmm, I've discovered that B actually has an option to enable SSH, but that requires switching servers. Any active mySQL databases are lost in process. When I have confidence that I have learned to backup and restore mySQL databases, I'll switch over. Once I have SSH on B, then I can do symmetrical directory hierarchy compressions and wgets. That should work.

Thanks,

Henry

[explorador]

you are welcome. Remember, if you can't log into ssh, you can always use php or perl to send the commands to the server. I have a site where a click of the mouse compress the whole site into a backup.

This is the way I automated backups on the company I work for.

Try diff options. I get problems using gzip, sometimes when I use tar. But there are several tools for doing the job. Good luck.