Software Development:
Individual Programming

Symptom

You want to backup a web directory including subdirectories and all files contained the directory into an archive file (.tar.g, .tar.gz, .zip).

Solution

With a Bitpalace ValueWebspace or Bitpalace Business Booster you can easily backup directories and files to a .zip file using the file manager. With the Bitpalace Business Booster you can create .tar and .tar.gz files, too, using the Linux console.

A) How to backup files using the file manager

1. Login to your web space’s customer control panel.

2. Click on the “File Manager” icon.

3. Select the directories and files that you want to backup by checking the checkbox in front of the directory and file names.

4. Click on the “Add to Archive” icon, enter the name of the archive and click “OK”.

In file manager you might need to move a level up or down, depending on the files and directories that you want to backup. For example when you want to backup the /httpdocs directory (the document root directory of your main domain), first move a level up by clicking on the up-arrow with the two dots .., then check the httpdocs directory. This way you can store all files of your website in a single archive file.

B) How to backup files with TAR on the Linux command line. This function is only available on Bitpalast® Business Booster accounts.

1. Connect with your server by SSH, e.g. using PuTTY.

2. Move into the directory where you want to create the archive. If you want to backup all files and directories of your main domain, you do not need to change the directory.

3. Enter the command:

tar -czf my-backup.tar.gz directoryname

Instead of “directoryname” use the name of the directory tree that you want to archive. For example, if you want to backup the main domain, you could write:

tar -czf my-backup.tar.gz httpdocs

All directories and files under httpdocs will be archived and compressed afterwards to save storage space.

Overview of frequently asked questions