Akeeba Backup for Joomla!

Sunday, 02 December 2012 04:55 CST

user41123

Mandatory information about my setup:

Have I read the related troubleshooter articles above before posting (which pages?)? Yes, more than twice
Have I searched the tickets before posting? Yes
Have I read the documentation before posting (which pages?)? Yes, several times
Joomla! version: 2.5.6
PHP version: 5.3.x
MySQL version: (unknown)
Host: (optional, but it helps us help you)
Akeeba Backup version: 3.6.9 Pro

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Please attach a ZIP file containing your Akeeba Backup log file in order for us to help you with any backup or restoration issue. If the file is over 2Mb, please upload it on your server and post a link to it.

Description of my issue: partly failed when backup to Dropbox

Hi Nicholas,

First my compliment for the Pro version of Akeeba Backup. I used the free version for almost two years but the Pro version with a lot more options and also faster is worth every penny!

Second, I have a question about backup using Dropbox. In my first attemp I've setup to split JPA archive-files to 5 Mb max. I didn't change any other settings (except the Dropbox-settings off course) because the PHP-settings on my webserver seems to be OK.

Backup wasn't succesvol because in the final step (upload to Dropbox) it throws an Ajax-errror. The result was that 16 split archive-files of 5 Mb where uploaded to Dropbox and the rest was still in the Akeeba backup folder on my webserver. So, the connection to Dropbox is OK but the backup stops somewhere in the uploadprocess.

For your info, my backup-file is about 118 Mb (zipped to JPA) and the PHP-settings on my webserver are:
maximum_execution_time: 60, upload_max_filesize: 20 M and memory_limit: 128 M.

Question: Can you give me an advice for the ideal Dropbox-settings in my situation?
Another question: Isn't it a problem when restoring that the backup to Dropbox contains so many seperate files?

Greetings, Paul

Sunday, 02 December 2012 04:59 CST

nicholas

Hello Paul,

Thank you for your kind words!

In order to understand what is going on and be able to give you an accurate reply I will need you to ZIP and attach the backup log file. Without it I will have to speculate. Frankly, I am a lousy guesser. Most likely we're looking at a timeout issue (which may be worked around by enabling the "Set an infinite PHP time limit" in Akeeba Backup's Configuration) or we may have an intermittent connectivity issue with DropBox (which is usually a PITA as it depends on the providers downstream from your server).

Regarding the effect of multiple files on restoration, don't worry. All of our tools (integrated restoration, Kickstart, Akeeba eXtract Wizard) support split archives transparently. All you have to do is make sure that all of the archive part files are present and select just the .jpa file during restoration. Our tools will figure out this is a split archive and read all archive parts automatically, without your intervention.

Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos

Lead Developer and Director

🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!

Sunday, 02 December 2012 05:44 CST

user41123

Hi Nicholas,

Sorry I forget the ZIP-file. Besides that the logfile was already overwritten with a local backup I made yesterday.
But guess what; I just changed it to the Dropbox-account, changed split archives to 5 Mb again and now it works! I have 23 JPA-files in my Dropbox-folder now!
Maybe I had connectionproblems indeed with Dropbox and was a quiet sundaymorning a better moment, who knows? ;-)

I send you the ZIP anyway (I replaces the websitename in the txt-file with xxx.xx just in case) and maybe you have an addittional advice for the best settings.

Final question: is keeping these backupfiles to Dropbox safe by default or do I have to take extra security measures?

Have a nice sunday!

Paul

Sunday, 02 December 2012 05:52 CST

nicholas

Hi Paul,

Generally speaking, trying to backup your site in off-peak hours works best. When the server is at its peak traffic it is possible that the attempt to connect to Dropbox will lead to a timeout. I suspect that's what happened in the first backup try of yours.

You may want to try a slightly larger part size (say, 10Mb) and see if it works. There's a good chance that in your case it will work, but nobody can say for sure. Trying is the only way to be sure about it.

Regarding storage, Dropbox is a very good choice because it keeps the backup archive both online and locally. Even better, "locally" means "all computers syncronising with this Dropbox account". This is already a very good plan.

Regarding extra security, you may want to consider using the JPS (encrypted archive) format with a strong password stored in an encrypted keychain (e.g. 1Password). This is paranoia-level security and will prevent anyone who gets his hands on your backups from accessing their contents, even listing the file names.

Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos

Lead Developer and Director

🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!

Sunday, 02 December 2012 06:00 CST

user41123

Hi Nicholas,

Thanks for your advice about the larger part size and extra security. I try it out.

Greetings, Paul

Sunday, 02 December 2012 06:11 CST

nicholas

You're welcome, Paul!

Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos

Lead Developer and Director

🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!

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