CONTENT MANAGEMENT WORDPRESS ECOMMERCE AND JOOMLA >> skip to pricing <<
A content management system is a special kind of website that the customer and owner can update themselves. Typical brand names or "frameworks" are WORDPRESS and JOOMLA. By their very nature, the content of these websites change every time someone updates them with new posts or pages.
These websites also rely on the database + web folder paradigm (system). The Structure of the website is held on a normal computer (called a server in a large datacentre) whilst the content of each page is held in a database (usualy on a separate server). That means there are TWO servers working together to serve up your website to the general public.
To summarise : A wordpress website comprises two parts which need to be considered separately
- The website's text in a database, typically mySQL
- Files, Configurations and Images in folders
Without apportioning blame.. these sites break down and it has been shown that the quickest route to getting your website back up and running correctly is via a back-up plan. The procedure is both simple and cost-effective.
THE BACKUP PROCESS EXPLAINED
The process operates on 4 states:-
- INSTALL the back-up software.
- CONFIGURE what needs backing up.
- AUTOMATE the process to back up as often as you like.
- RESTORE the website should disaster strike or you want to go back to a previous version.
We can do all this for you if you wish. All you need to do is decide to go ahead! If that's the way you want to go - skip the techie stuff below and go straight to pricing
1. INSTALL
To get the process started we have to install ONE file. Its called the API file.
2. CONFIGURE
You then decide what parts of your website you want to back up. If you are not sure - just back up everything.
3. AUTOMATE
Decide how often you want to back up the website. Some customers are happy at once a week. Most Wordpress / Joomla owners back up daily. Customers with sensitive data like E-Commerce solutions may wish to back up hourly!
4. RESTORE
This is the most important aspect of the process. so lets just go through the process for completeness.
Imagine the worst thing imaginable happens and all your data is wiped.
::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: TECH ALERT ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :::
TYPICALLY CALCO WILL DO THIS BIT FOR YOU
1. Download a fresh copy of the API file described in item 1 above from the OFF-SITE BACKUP CONTROL PANEL . Whilst doing this cut and paste a copy of the ORIGINAL API FILE's LOCATION or PATHWAY
2. Upload a new version of the API file mentioned in stage one above. We have it safely stored with your archive.
:: IMPORTANT ::
Although this process is automated we recommend you RECREATE THE API PATHWAY / FOLDER STRUCTURE TO YOUR API FILE . So if the backup file was located at :-
mylovelywebsite.com/htdocs/wp-content/plugins/mybackup/api/mybackup.php
Make the empty folders using an FTP programme and manually upload the API file (mybackup.php) file to the correct location.
3. Once there we test the API file and if all is well we would select RESTORE EVERYTHING from the online control panel. A progress bar is displayed to give a rough guide to progress. After a good few minutes or longer a SUCEESS or FAIL notice is displayed. Assuming all is well - check your website to make sure it all works!
Often times Wordpress (or any CMS) will fail in what SEEMS to be a catastrophic manner; but it may only be one file that's not "happy" or a plugin that needs updating. We have a separate page on How to Fix Wordpress which you should read and follow first. However if this didn't work and you need to use your backups then here is how to proceed in a LOGICAL manner.
Its unlikely both your FILES and DATABASE are both corrupted. Its also less likely that the Database is the problem and that its the web folders that are a problem. If that's the case then we are inclined to simply FIX the WEB FOLDERS as our first stage in the RESTORE plan.
Go to the RESTORE control panel. Select Restore Files - and restore what you need to restore. Wordpress is very tidy, so for example Plugins are stored in the Plugins folder and Themes in the Themes folder. Of course if you are not sure - just back up all the files in the PUBLIC_HTML (or HTDOCS) folder by placing a tick in the adjacent box. You then wait while the backup is recovered and restored.
If a message is displayed about a corrupt or missing API simple proceed as in steps 1 and 2 in the green panel above.
Once the backup is complete - check your website by viewing it after first REFRESHING the browser (CTRL+F5 or click REFRESH while holding down the Control Key). If the website looks "normal" then that's great. If not you need to restore the DATABASE from backup. To do this you simply go to your back-up control panel and click the correct icon to restore the database. Wait for the procedure to complete and then test your website again.
REMEMBER : Your restored website will only be as UP TO DATE as your last backup.
PRICING
We charge you by the amount of data you store off-site and any significant downloads (i.e. restores). Normal Database and files back-up to the website server are always Free Of Charge
We suggest backing up once a day. We retain SEVEN (1 per day) copies of your data; one for each day. The oldest one is replaced with the newest one to keep your backed up set at 7 back-ups. This means you are typically storing SEVEN times the size of your website. The good news is that we compress the data so that it will be smaller to store. You are charged for the smaller version. An average 33mb Wordpress website is going to cost under 20 pounds a year to back up! so call today on:-
01599 534964 (option 8)
* If you "go over" your limit you will be charged the balance for the rest of your pre-paid year. Our tariff has been carefully designed to cater for Low - Medium - Large sized websites. If you spill into the next band up, you probably need to consider this a permenant move as no amount of housekeeping will prevent the inevitable.
OFF SITE BACK UP PRICING
| Back up (website size) | Chargeable Total Stored (7 separate daily backups) |
Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Over 200mb website size set-up is free | ||
| Up to 100mb | 700mb | 19.50 pounds GBP |
| 100mb to 200mb | 700mb - 1400mb (1.4gb) | 39 pounds GBP |
| 200mb to 500mb | 1400mb - 3500mb (3.5gb) | 99 pounds GBP |
| 500mb - 1000mb (1gb) | 3500mb - 7000mb (7gb) | 199 pounds GBP |
| Over 1Gb | charged per 1Gb block. | £ please call. |
OTHER FEES
Disaster recovery for existing customers is free up to 15 minutes - which is usually adequate tme to get the restore process initiated. Thereafter 60 pounds GBP per hour.
Back Up Set-up is generally free of charge for existing customers.
BACKING UP WORDPRESS FOR FREE
We are often asked how to back up wordpress ... without paying anything?
The answer is fairly simple. Get a copy of backwpup plugin by Daniel Husken and install it to your Wordpress installation.
Configure it as per the plug-in's instructions, leaving most settings at default.
Set up a BACKUP JOB- What to back-up, where to back it up and how often* to back it up. This is where you find out if you are technically minded or not.
Go to the list of back-up jobs and click back up now. Anything listed in the log that is produced that is highlighted in colour is a problem. Hopefully you wont see anything highlighted.
Why not back up your website to DropBox. That way if your server "crashes" and EWVERYTHING is lost, you can still retrieve your back-up as it wont have been stored on the server. We (Calco UK) NEVER back up websites on the same server on which they are running.
IMPORTANT NOTE. Webspace isnt free, someone has to pay for it. So make sure you minimise your back-ups by only backing up the FILES that NEED to be backed up. Similarly if you are running a "static" website and not a blog with lots of posts, maybe you dont need to back up more than once or twice a month. Lastly set the running total of back-ups to a maximum of 10.
THE FLIPSIDE : RESTORING A WORDPRESS INSTALL
A complete restore may be needed if the database is hacked and the Wordpress files are corrupted. In which case just DELETE everything in your webspace that pertains to the Wordpress installation in question. (yes including the images as they could contain malicious code). Then "kill" the database using a tool like PHPMYADMIN.
1) The process is simply : log into your database using phpMyAdmin then CHECK ALL (tables) and click DROP from the drop-down menu. Confirm and you are done.
2) Use the most recent CLEAN backup and upload the Wordpress files part to your web-space using ftp.
3) Use the associated MySQL database from the same back-up (it needs to be clean too) and go to phpMyAdmin - log into your database and click IMPORT. (you then choose the correct database backup.)
The job is done.
LEVELS OF PROTECTION?
Calco provide FREE control panel back-up with all our newer self-managed accounts. However this should really be considered the MINIMUM level of protection. The reason is simple ... the back-up is on the same server as your original data; therefore if the server fails both sets of data may be corrupted or lost.
This back-up is also a manual procedure and although quick and simple, it relies on YOU to actuate the process. Back-Up Manually Procedure
With our commercial service the data is stored AWAY from the server in a secure telehouse and the process is fully automated. We also think it represents extremely good value for money and a peace of mind that is invaluable in a busy IT environment.
STANDARD WEBSITE BACKUPS
Calco keep duplicate and triplicate back-up copies of all our "flat" HTML websites, as well as archives of older images and pages. So if you call in for changes and updates or your website doesnt need updating... its likely that its already protected through our general hosting plan. Call us to be sure though. Wordpress and Joomla sites cannot be backed up like this so all CMS websites need on-line backup technology.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND CALCO?
Calco delivered again and again. Always good to work with and technical knowledge is spot on. He understands what is needed and delivers every time! I would have no hesitation to recommend Ron and his company.” August 31, 2012
Top qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity
Source: Linked In
Author : Joan MacFarlane