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Akeeba Backup for Joomla!

#14752 How to determine why backup file size is much bigger?

Posted in ‘Akeeba Backup for Joomla! 4 & 5’
This is a public ticket

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Environment Information

Joomla! version
n/a
PHP version
n/a
Akeeba Backup version
n/a

Latest post by nicholas on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 07:31 CST

Tuesday, 22 January 2013 22:36 CST

nemmar

Mandatory information about my setup:

Have I read the related troubleshooter articles above before posting (which pages?)? Yes
Have I searched the tickets before posting? Yes
Have I read the documentation before posting (which pages?)? Yes, https://www.akeebabackup.com/documentation/akeeba-backup-documentation/view-log.html
Joomla! version: 2.5.8
PHP version: 5.3.19
MySQL version: 5.5.27-cll
Host: dedicated server
Akeeba Backup version: Akeeba Backup Professional  3.6.12 (2013-01-04)
 
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:
Nicholas,

Today when I ran the full backup (database and files) the backup file size was much larger than it was before. The backup is now 2.23 GB split into 2 parts. I have not added any new files to my site since the last backup and the database is the same size of 150 MB. The prior full backup size was 1.76 GB. I have a backup exclude filter to not backup the flash video files in my folders. I use the default Configuration Wizard settings for the folders/tables/extensions. So I don't know what is causing the backups to now be much larger (about 500 MB).

I have attached a copy of my backup log file. Can you tell me where I can find the info that might give me an indication where the extra file sizes are coming from in the backups?

Thanks for any advice!

Wednesday, 23 January 2013 01:52 CST

nicholas

Hello Guy,

In order to do that you have to search your log file for the phrase "Breaking step _before_ large file". Akeeba Backup outputs a log message with this phrase before backing up a large file. The rest of the message tells you the location of the large file and its size in bytes. Moreover, you have to search for "Breaking step *after* large file". This message is output after a big file is added to the archive. It's not necessary that both messages will be printed for each big file.

For example:

INFO |130122 20:04:57|Breaking step _before_ large file: <root>/core.27654 - size: 168697856

There is a core dump (crash report) file in your site's root and its size is 160Mb. In total I can see three such file, totalling almost half a gigabyte. They explain the size difference between the two backups. You don't need them; delete them.

The other large file I can see is a large video (HBS-Kit-narration-video-Complete.wmv) which is 59Mb. Everything else is pretty much normal.

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!

Wednesday, 23 January 2013 07:13 CST

nemmar

Nicholas,

Thank you! I didn't know there were those 3 core dump crash report files in my site root folder. I deleted them and added a RegEx to exclude the WMV files so my backup file size is smaller now at 1.70 GB.

I will close this ticket.

Can you delete the "Akeeba Backup Debug Log.zip" file I posted in the first thread of this ticket? I would like to prevent anyone else from viewing my backup log file if closed tickets are still readable to anyone using your support forums.

Thanks for your help!!

Wednesday, 23 January 2013 07:31 CST

nicholas

You're welcome!

The attachment is now unpublished at your request.

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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