Simple Machines Community Forum

SMF Development => Feature Requests => Applied or Declined Requests => Topic started by: IP_Board_Rules on November 27, 2022, 08:00:49 AM

Title: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: IP_Board_Rules on November 27, 2022, 08:00:49 AM
Is there a mod for downloading all the files from the Server / doing a backup of a site? I am refering to the sources, theme folder files etc. Thank you
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Kindred on November 27, 2022, 08:15:20 AM
No. And this will not be a feature.

We literally REMOVED the backup option from smf admin since it generated so many problems based on server configuration
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Steve on November 27, 2022, 08:18:54 AM
Is there some reason you can't do it from cPanel?
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: IP_Board_Rules on November 27, 2022, 08:27:54 AM
Quote from: Steve on November 27, 2022, 08:18:54 AMIs there some reason you can't do it from cPanel?

Yes there is

Is there any mod for this? I am using the no longer available file manager mod but it only allows a single file download at a time
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Illori on November 27, 2022, 10:07:56 AM
Quote from: Kindred on November 27, 2022, 08:15:20 AMWe literally REMOVED the backup option from smf admin since it generated so many problems based on server configuration

that was for the database, we never had an option to do a file backup on demand. except for when installing mods but that does not auto download the backup.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: m4z on November 27, 2022, 11:36:01 AM
Quote from: atanua on November 27, 2022, 08:27:54 AM
Quote from: Steve on November 27, 2022, 08:18:54 AMIs there some reason you can't do it from cPanel?

Yes there is

Care to elaborate?
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Sir Osis of Liver on November 27, 2022, 12:51:59 PM
You can use any ftp client to d/l files.

Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: IP_Board_Rules on November 27, 2022, 02:42:43 PM
Okay. So there is no mod. Thanks for letting me know
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: m4z on November 27, 2022, 05:20:49 PM
As we tried to explain, this feature was very much limited by the hosting setup, so it caused more support effort than it helped people. Using your hosting Webinterface or shell access is much more reliable.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Illori on November 27, 2022, 07:25:04 PM
Quote from: m4z on November 27, 2022, 05:20:49 PMAs we tried to explain, this feature was very much limited by the hosting setup, so it caused more support effort than it helped people. Using your hosting Webinterface or shell access is much more reliable.

there was NEVER a feature in SMF to do a file backup that is what the op is asking for.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Kindred on November 27, 2022, 09:25:03 PM
While that is true, Illori - the point remains that we removed the existing backup from the software because the backup from Cpanel is better, in every way.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: live627 on November 28, 2022, 12:03:18 AM
Quote from: atanua on November 27, 2022, 02:42:43 PMOkay. So there is no mod. Thanks for letting me know
While that is true, you are in luck because there is this little known feature of the package manager that creates a tarball of all files including any known themes. It can be enabled at    Administration Center » Package Manager » Options as a mislabeled setting "Create Backup versions of replaced files with a tilde (~) on the end of their names."

Install/uninstall any random mod to make a new backup in ./packages/backups




Full disclosure for those in this thread excited to shout over me and prove me wrong: this is for 2.0.x. I'm aware that 2.1.x is more clear on this.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: m4z on November 28, 2022, 01:24:06 AM
The OP was asking for a feature to also download the files (from within SMF, I assume).
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: mgcAna on November 29, 2022, 01:48:46 PM
OP is probably inspired form wordpress ecosystem where there are many plugins where user can backup and restore full WP without leaving admin interface.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: IP_Board_Rules on January 08, 2023, 03:52:29 PM
Quote from: live627 on November 28, 2022, 12:03:18 AMWhile that is true, you are in luck because there is this little known feature of the package manager that creates a tarball of all files including any known themes. It can be enabled at    Administration Center » Package Manager » Options as a mislabeled setting "Create Backup versions of replaced files with a tilde (~) on the end of their names."

Thank you for suggesting this. Would this create a backup on the server for downloading it?
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: IP_Board_Rules on January 08, 2023, 03:57:47 PM
Quote from: mgcAna on November 29, 2022, 01:48:46 PMOP is probably inspired form wordpress ecosystem where there are many plugins where user can backup and restore full WP without leaving admin interface.

Yes that is correct. Basically a mod that will do a zipped backup of all the source & theme files etc. Not necessarily but preferably also the other folders.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Illori on January 08, 2023, 03:59:52 PM
Quote from: atanua on January 08, 2023, 03:57:47 PM
Quote from: mgcAna on November 29, 2022, 01:48:46 PMOP is probably inspired form wordpress ecosystem where there are many plugins where user can backup and restore full WP without leaving admin interface.

Yes that is correct. Basically a mod that will do a zipped backup of all the source & theme files etc. Not necessarily but preferably also the other folders.

SMF does a file backup if enabled when you install mods. you just cannot download it from within SMF.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Kindred on January 08, 2023, 05:01:05 PM
Why?

The backup routine from your host is better and more robust than anything we could write
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: IP_Board_Rules on January 08, 2023, 06:17:54 PM
Quote from: Kindred on January 08, 2023, 05:01:05 PMWhy?

The backup routine from your host is better and more robust than anything we could write

No doubt about that but I was specificly looking for a possible mod to download it via the admin interface
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Kindred on January 08, 2023, 07:16:57 PM
Again, why?

The hosting cpanel is more robust, faster, and potentially more secure.

Allowing download of site contents from admin - although SMF has a VERY good security record,  potentially exposes the site contents to a hacker who gets access to the smf admin tools (say through social engineering)
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Illori on January 08, 2023, 07:31:42 PM
also if your forum goes down due to a bad mod install, you cannot access the admin panel to download the backup anyway. also you cannot restore it from the admin panel either.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: DeadMan... on January 08, 2023, 08:56:30 PM
Very good point.
It's always better and safer to do backups and restores via your web hosting control panel.
If you are unable to do that, it seems to me that there's something very strange about your web hosting situation.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: live627 on January 08, 2023, 10:59:35 PM
Quote from: atanua on January 08, 2023, 03:52:29 PM
Quote from: live627 on November 28, 2022, 12:03:18 AMWhile that is true, you are in luck because there is this little known feature of the package manager that creates a tarball of all files including any known themes. It can be enabled at    Administration Center » Package Manager » Options as a mislabeled setting "Create Backup versions of replaced files with a tilde (~) on the end of their names."

Thank you for suggesting this. Would this create a backup on the server for downloading it?
Yes.      They are .tar.gz files and are in ./Packages/backups
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: Illori on January 09, 2023, 04:48:44 AM
actually it is the option Create a backup of key SMF files whenever a package is installed or uninstalled. on that page to create the tar.gz not the one you said. this is enabled by default. the option you said just creates the backup of each file with the ~ at the end of the file name.
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: live627 on January 09, 2023, 05:33:05 AM
Quote from: live627 on November 28, 2022, 12:03:18 AMFull disclosure for those in this thread excited to shout over me and prove me wrong: this is for 2.0.x. I'm aware that 2.1.x is more clear on this.
heh, who'da thunk, I predicted a totally predictable outcome >:D
Title: Re: Mod for doing a backup of SMF files (nopt database)
Post by: DeadMan... on January 09, 2023, 07:23:18 PM
Quote from: atanua on November 27, 2022, 08:27:54 AM
Quote from: Steve on November 27, 2022, 08:18:54 AMIs there some reason you can't do it from cPanel?

Yes there is

Is there any mod for this? I am using the no longer available file manager mod but it only allows a single file download at a time

If you have a valid web hosting account, you will have access to the account's control panel, most usually cPanel.

You can either use that to back up the files, or FTP into your hosting account to do the same.

If you managed to install and get SMF running there, then you should have the ability to go back in to back up the files.