Backup management

[jetzkr8]

The few recent backup issues cropping up on hdd failures is worrying. I understand there is a backup utility that enables one to perform domain level backup as well as database backup much easier.

I have one nagging question left. How do we backup email configuration of clients? This will complete the backup necessary for each account, being domain, database and email setuup. I am also wondering how all this relates to webmail information. My objective is to offer complete backup for any one account.

[mresell]

email config or mail? I don't know of anything for either. If they use pop no need to backup email. For IMAP I don't know if utiliites would work here. (whole other ball game) same for webmail unless it is built into the webmail. But I gotta say if you are trying to back up email...for your clients that is no small task management or otherwise. With the api you may be able to get access to their passes etc. If you setup the mail you can record the user and passes assuming they don't change.

[MEELAN]

I think Ashvin is asking about email accounts settings of our clients!
I too was thinking about finding a way to keep a back up of all their email account settings for a long time now !

Hope there will be good solution soon!

[jetzkr8]

Yes, it was the email config. I had to tell one client to re-create their email configurations due to restore processes that had to be done using outdated backup versions. I was lucky the client was new and had just a week ago created something like 5 email accounts. Imagine trying to tell this sort of stuff to a mature client having no less than 20 email configurations. I simply need the ability to restore their email configurations (password included) in the event such a thing happens again.

I cannot imagine attempting to backup email content for users. Privacy issues are bound to crop up and the task is really not a reseller's responsibility.

[admin]

Well a reseller can't really make a back up for the end users but you could tell your customers how to do it. They could use pop3 and leave messages on the server. This way they have a copy on there local system and on the server.

We already have the new system running and making backups. It takes it a bit to get all the systems but its going on 3 of the 4 backup systems right now. The 4th will start going as soon as we are 100% we have got every thing we can out of it for unix12. Then it will start backing up as well.

[sobocinski]

Originally Posted by jetzkr8

The few recent backup issues cropping up on hdd failures is worrying. I understand there is a backup utility that enables one to perform domain level backup as well as database backup much easier.

I know i'm gonna feel like a doofus when i find out the answer to this but here goes: i've been seeing references to this "backup utility" that is available "on the H-sphere cp" but i'm not seeing it. i would like a simple way to backup my domains and dbs as well, but the only thing i know of right now is to open the "File Manager" and create an "Archive" of my top level folder. i am clueless on the db b/u. is "Export" on the PHPMyAdmin the same as a db b/u?

and, if you're counting votes, Brad, I too would like to have an easy way to rebuild a customer's email configs. how hard would it be to implement somehting like that?

[admin]

Hmmm, I am not sure I will talk to some people to see what we can do on email configs in the future.

[mresell]

As I said I can't see a way to back up the email configs. You could go in and print a copy of their addresses, but it is a screwed up sit. Are you gonna back it up to their pc, yours, what? That is why a certain level of backup reliability is a must for a server environment. The only hope for that would be something possibly via the api, but as I said where will the info be stored?

Edit:If you recreate them you can always use default passes the user name you would have if you printed a copy of their email page.(maybe not 100% current tho)

[sobocinski]

Originally Posted by mresell

As I said I can't see a way to back up the email configs. You could go in and print a copy of their addresses, but it is a screwed up sit. Are you gonna back it up to their pc, yours, what? That is why a certain level of backup reliability is a must for a server environment. The only hope for that would be something possibly via the api, but as I said where will the info be stored?

I would save it on my local PC. obviously, my knowledge level on this is low, but why is this so hard? i just want to extract a file that contains account names and passwords for safekeeping. in the even of a failure of somethign i'd like to import this file into the mailserver to recreate the accounts. the file doesn't even have to readable. some binary hash hoo-ha would be fine w/ me.

Originally Posted by mresell

Edit:If you recreate them you can always use default passes the user name you would have if you printed a copy of their email page.(maybe not 100% current tho)

that's what i do now. i create email accts for my customers and provide them w/ a default password and i give them instructions to change it to somehtign personal--i doubt if most of them do.

[Brangwyn]

Have you enabled the Account Backup resource at the plan level ?

[mresell]

Originally Posted by Brangwyn

Have you enabled the Account Backup resource at the plan level ?

Doesn't sound like it. That is probably why he can't see it.

[sobocinski]

Originally Posted by Brangwyn

Have you enabled the Account Backup resource at the plan level ?

ahhhhh. see i told you i'd feel like a doofus. [sheepish on]no i didn't do that[/sheepish off]

[sobocinski]

Ok, i've enabled it, but how does it work? i clicked for a backup delivery but it just says "waiting"??

this is the one complaint i have about vortech. you guys are great, but you have no organized documentation. if i search for "backup" in the KB i get no info on this feature.

[mresell]

Being able to get what you need would involve a functional api, even then it would have to be tested if the api would support this. A functional api should be forthcoming someday. They could always use email somewhere else, as well.

[mresell]

You have to search forum. Tons of info. This is new so probably why no docs elsewhere.

http://forum.vortechhosting.com/show...backup+feature

http://vortechhosting.com/tutorials/
http://vortechhosting.com/support/
http://support.vortechhosting.com

QUOTE:
Backup Flash Tutorial
Great Dean! Glad you got it working!

I've developed a flash tutorial for anyone who wants to grab a free copy to help out their customers utilize this new feature. You can download it at http://hspheredemos.com/downloads/backups.zip

If my current flash tutorial customers would like a customized copy, just send us a note and a copy of your logo and we'll customize it and send it off to you.

Thanks for adding this feature!