Hello I just wanted to provide an update to the list of my implemented backup procedure (it may help with other people in the same position!) 1. Apache - rsync the file httpd.conf and the conf.d folder over to another machine which is configured with the same Apache version (2.2 IIRC) - it acts as a "mirror" to the main server now (for want of a better description). 2. MySQL - Currently looking at Zmanda on a virtual machine and not having much luck (although a small disaster with an un-related LVM issue this weekend took priority!). For now, a simple EXPORT from the WebGUI to a plain SQL file which can be imported in at will to the "mirror" will have to suffice. In the event of the main webserver failing, the rsync will be no more than 1 hour old and the MySQL no more than 1 day old - all I need to do is change my firewall's port forwarding to the IP address of the failover machine (I can't change the Ip on the machine because there are other services running on it (samba)). Yes, I know, I should get DNS working so I can change the IP at will but I can't be bothered, ok ;) I have two kids and a demanding wife who insists I spend time with her instead of the computers lol!! Anyway, Sheryl, your help is very much appreciated and your suggestions very good. Have a nice day everyone! Rich -----Original Message----- From: Sheryl [mailto:gubydala@xxxxxxx] Sent: 07 August 2009 16:30 To: users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Re: backup & restore apache & mysql > Sheryl > Many thanks for the comprehensive reply and information; I'll look at > zmanda now (I have looked at using the Amanda backup stuff once already > and thought it was very good). > > Would making a copy of the httpd.conf and conf.d folders be sufficient > for a good easily "restorable" Apache backup? > > Rich > Rich, Any time. And yes, I've heard very good things about amanda (now zmanda) although I've never used the main backup package on the job. Apache is going to be considerably more forgiving than mysql. As long as you don't change minor numbers (like 2.0 to 2.2) the httpd.conf should work on any hardware/OS you restore to as should the html. However, you need to make sure you get all of the bits and pieces. Better to back up too much than too little. And I also like to put configuration files under version control in subversion as well as back them up. In the past at our site, we had apache, php and mysql software installed in /opt, supporting small programs in /usr/local, perl modules in /usr/lib/perl5, cron jobs in /var/spool/cron, etc and sometimes had to scramble to reassemble them on a recovery machine. More recently we have been taking the hit on disk space and including everything the site needs in one tree. If we have a disaster we restore the whole tree to a clean install. If we need a development version we restore the whole tree to a clean install and just change a few lines in httpd.conf to get it to come up under the new name/IP. Of course we already compiled our own apache and php rather than using RPMs and we have a mysql support contract so we had to use mysql.com binaries instead of what came with RedHat (and wanted to use more current copies anyway). Regards, Sheryl --------------------------------------------------------------------- The official User-To-User support forum of the Apache HTTP Server Project. See <URL:http://httpd.apache.org/userslist.html> for more info. To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx " from the digest: users-digest-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For additional commands, e-mail: users-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ********************************************************************** Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you must not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance to it. In such case, you should destroy this message and kindly notify the sender by reply email. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of Minorplanet Systems plc shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. Minorplanet Systems plc, Registration no: 3372097 Minorplanet Limited, Registration no: 4072786 Greenwich House, 223 North Street, Leeds, LS7 2AA VAT #: 698 1438 86 ********************************************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------- The official User-To-User support forum of the Apache HTTP Server Project. See <URL:http://httpd.apache.org/userslist.html> for more info. To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx " from the digest: users-digest-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For additional commands, e-mail: users-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx