Comments on: Open Thread: How to Prevent Data Loss http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/ News, opinion, and fresh thinking for web developers and designers. The official podcast of sitepoint.com. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:15:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Eric Ferraiuolo http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-879221 Eric Ferraiuolo Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:40:41 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-879221 eretz: Slicehost's backup service uses disk images/snapshots. So I find it useful if I were to mess something up I could restore my slice from a previous snapshot. Yes, you're correct, both Slicehost and JungleDisk were aquired by Rackspace at the same time; I wrote my thoughts about that on my blog: <a href="http://925html.com/business/dont-sell-your-small-giant/" rel="nofollow">Don't Sell Your Small Giant</a> eretz: Slicehost’s backup service uses disk images/snapshots. So I find it useful if I were to mess something up I could restore my slice from a previous snapshot.

Yes, you’re correct, both Slicehost and JungleDisk were aquired by Rackspace at the same time; I wrote my thoughts about that on my blog: Don’t Sell Your Small Giant

]]> By: Dorsey http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-874232 Dorsey Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:08:06 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-874232 My comments assume that you're using a reputable hosting service with all of the customary security and that performs full server backups nightly. We use two systems, not for fall-over (our host provides that), but rather for data and site backup. One system is exposed to the world, while the other is private to us. We run automysqlbackup.sh from SourceForge to create DB backups nightly during a low-load period, and then FTP the whole shooting match to our other server. The proof is in the pudding (to use another aphorism): we had to recover a DB for one of our sites this past Fall, and there it was in all it's glory. We suffered a few tense moments before the relief of full recovery took hold, and there was joy throughout the land. Dorsey My comments assume that you’re using a reputable hosting service with all of the customary security and that performs full server backups nightly. We use two systems, not for fall-over (our host provides that), but rather for data and site backup. One system is exposed to the world, while the other is private to us. We run automysqlbackup.sh from SourceForge to create DB backups nightly during a low-load period, and then FTP the whole shooting match to our other server.

The proof is in the pudding (to use another aphorism): we had to recover a DB for one of our sites this past Fall, and there it was in all it’s glory. We suffered a few tense moments before the relief of full recovery took hold, and there was joy throughout the land.

Dorsey

]]> By: picohax http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873935 picohax Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:05:52 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873935 (repeating for emphasis) Once you have your own personal copy of all your data (any and all data that helps keep your business running) make sure to convert it into long term storage media - like CD/DVD or tape. Use <strong>multisession burning for CDs and DVDs</strong> if your data is significantly less than a gigabyte, but backups need to be more frequent than weekly. Disks, flash drives, external storage - basically electronic storage of any kind can get screwed unexpectedly. Optical storage is the cheapest and safest option for small businesses or personal data. Get a good DVD burner and a pack of 25-100 CDs/DVDs. It helps a lot. Make a written backup policy that <strong>every employee must be able to recite like their favorite music/number or dearest prayer</strong>. No kidding. Only when you say that, will your employees take it seriously. <strong>"Don't know backup steps? Lose one day's pay every month."</strong> (repeating for emphasis)
Once you have your own personal copy of all your data (any and all data that helps keep your business running) make sure to convert it into long term storage media – like CD/DVD or tape.
Use multisession burning for CDs and DVDs if your data is significantly less than a gigabyte, but backups need to be more frequent than weekly.
Disks, flash drives, external storage – basically electronic storage of any kind can get screwed unexpectedly. Optical storage is the cheapest and safest option for small businesses or personal data.
Get a good DVD burner and a pack of 25-100 CDs/DVDs.
It helps a lot.

Make a written backup policy that every employee must be able to recite like their favorite music/number or dearest prayer. No kidding. Only when you say that, will your employees take it seriously.

“Don’t know backup steps? Lose one day’s pay every month.”

]]> By: essexboyracer http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873579 essexboyracer Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:43:27 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873579 For the small site owners here, mainly running cPanel (which as far as the version i'm on doesn't have automated email backups). you could try something along the lines of <em>LucidSurf</em> but use openSSL to encrypt the archive, then email or whatever thus making it a tad more secure. <code>$command .= 'openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -in ' . $document_root . 'backup_.tgz -out ' . $compath . '/username_backup.enc $output = shell_exec($command);</code> For the small site owners here, mainly running cPanel (which as far as the version i’m on doesn’t have automated email backups). you could try something along the lines of LucidSurf but use openSSL to encrypt the archive, then email or whatever thus making it a tad more secure.

$command .= 'openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -in ' . $document_root . 'backup_.tgz -out ' . $compath . '/username_backup.enc $output = shell_exec($command);]]> By: Michael Linehan http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873576 Michael Linehan Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:32:20 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873576 All these technical solutions ---- I am very interested in the educational/psychological aspects. It makes sense when a one-person business owner who barely knows how to turn on the computer doesn't have a back-up strategy. But how the heck can a company like this be so clueless, and what can be done about that phenomenon? Part of that maybe becomes, how can back-up solution companies get through the fog surrounding such people's brains? All these technical solutions —- I am very interested in the educational/psychological aspects. It makes sense when a one-person business owner who barely knows how to turn on the computer doesn’t have a back-up strategy. But how the heck can a company like this be so clueless, and what can be done about that phenomenon?
Part of that maybe becomes, how can back-up solution companies get through the fog surrounding such people’s brains?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873532 Anonymous Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:31:12 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873532 A complete business model should also include an option for end-user managed backups. That allows prudent customers to control their own data. A complete business model should also include an option for end-user managed backups. That allows prudent customers to control their own data.

]]> By: BSBC http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873472 BSBC Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:37:58 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873472 About backup strategies, My web site is small now and I can mange data lose easily because I have it on my PC . However with increasing data I fell some how afraid of losing data either with small mistake like saving wrong data over new one or by losing links between pages..I will start using database as my web site topics increasing but it is too early for me ... Best way form my point is saving data frequently in DVD or any external drive but not flash it is not safe.. Using other server is not efficient and cost money and you may not use it.. I like my web sit it steel small <a href="http://www.BSBCenter.com" rel="nofollow"></a> About backup strategies, My web site is small now and I can mange data lose easily because I have it on my PC . However with increasing data I fell some how afraid of losing data either with small mistake like saving wrong data over new one or by losing links between pages..I will start using database as my web site topics increasing but it is too early for me … Best way form my point is saving data frequently in DVD or any external drive but not flash it is not safe..
Using other server is not efficient and cost money and you may not use it..
I like my web sit it steel small

]]> By: Ryu http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873442 Ryu Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:17:57 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873442 for MySQL i've used the PHP-Tool MySQLDumper several Times, its nice thing so try it :) <a href="http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/" rel="nofollow">http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/</a> for MySQL i’ve used the PHP-Tool MySQLDumper several Times, its nice thing so try it :)
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/

]]> By: Farside http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873426 Farside Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:34:06 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873426 I have a solution that is similar to the one <em>LucidSurf</em> uses. Daily I run these cron jobs: <code>/bin/sh /usr/home/myusername/mysqlbackup.sh</code> <code>/bin/sh /usr/home/myusername/zipmysqlbackup.sh</code> The first sh file dumps my databases, use one such line for each database: <code>mysqldump -uxxx -pxxxx --opt dbname > /usr/home/myusername/backups/backup_dbname.sql</code> The second zips it into the zip directory: <code>cd /usr/home/myusername/backup/zip</code> <code>tar -zcvf db_backups.tgz ../*.sql</code> Then I use Cobian Backup (<a href="http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/index.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/index.htm</a>) to daily download my zip file via FTP, and keep separate versions for the last 4 days, so I have a copy on my server and one locally. As <em>LucidSurf</em> said, It's not the most elegant solution, but it's cheap. I have a solution that is similar to the one LucidSurf uses. Daily I run these cron jobs:

/bin/sh /usr/home/myusername/mysqlbackup.sh
/bin/sh /usr/home/myusername/zipmysqlbackup.sh

The first sh file dumps my databases, use one such line for each database:
mysqldump -uxxx -pxxxx --opt dbname > /usr/home/myusername/backups/backup_dbname.sql

The second zips it into the zip directory:
cd /usr/home/myusername/backup/zip
tar -zcvf db_backups.tgz ../*.sql

Then I use Cobian Backup (http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/index.htm) to daily download my zip file via FTP, and keep separate versions for the last 4 days, so I have a copy on my server and one locally. As LucidSurf said, It’s not the most elegant solution, but it’s cheap.

]]> By: NikLP http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2009/01/31/open-thread-how-to-prevent-data-loss/comment-page-1/#comment-873423 NikLP Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:29:44 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/?p=4862#comment-873423 Dropbox, Cron ... but I need something else for automated system backups, so thanks for the above advice :) Dropbox, Cron … but I need something else for automated system backups, so thanks for the above advice :)

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