UpdraftPlus is a popular plugin for doing backup and restoration for WordPress website or even migrating the entire installation into a new host or domain!
The free tools available offer variety of useful services which include
⦁ Scheduling backups
This can be done either manually or automatic, where backups are scheduled to take place on repeat for a given spaced duration – maybe overnight, every 4 hours or on a weekly/monthly basis etc.
Also, you can choose to either backup files only or the entire database or both – this is vital especially if you have a limited storage on your host account.
⦁ Remote Storage
This is the location where the performed backups are saved at. You may select to send the backup directly to an email address or simply save it to Dropbox or Google Drive just to mention a few. There are a couple of locations to choose from
With an addon, the plugin can be configured to send website files and database backups to more than a single remote location. How cool’s that?
Should you opt not to use the remote storage, the backup will save on your web server. The only challenge is: you will only have to rely on manual backup restoration service and in the event that your hosting expires or say a reset of the account was performed, you would end up losing your entire website and backup altogether!
⦁ What to Include and what not
UpdraftPlus plugin allows you to select the individual files and directories except the WordPress core. These include plugins, themes, uploaded files and also you may choose what to exclude, such as specific directories within themes and plugins!
Should you need to have your database backup encrypted, with the premium version of the plugin you can achieve that.
⦁ Export Settings
The exported backup can be split into multiple archives should they exceed a certain size limit, and create custom backup directories where all files exported will be saved .
Performing the backup and restore functions
After running ‘backup now’ using the free version of UpdraftPlus plugin, your backup file is generated and stored on the web server, these backup archives can be accessed from the ‘Existing Backup’ tab. There are options to either restore the backup or delete or view the log file. Additionally, you can choose to download the backup data by clicking on either of the sections of directories needed
Should there be an issue and you are unable to view the backup archives; there’s an option to re-scan the remote storage or local folder for new backup sets.
Restoring the backup onto your website is also easy. In fact you can choose certain sections of the backups to restore instead of the entire website backup.
For instance, you can choose to restore image uploads without making any changes for the other files on the database.
Migrating or cloning your website using UpdraftPlus
One of the easiest ways to run this task is by using the ‘Migrator’ premium feature of the plugin.What this does is either migrate or clone the entire website files into a different URL address and all is done from the dashboard within few minutes.
With that, you won’t have to configure or upload anything extra on the destination URL – since the plugin does all that for you!
Though this feature will set you back around $30-$100, (depends on the features and support structure you want) it’s still worth it – since it can be used on unlimited website installations, without having to purchase extra copy. The feature gives you access to all year duration to updates
If you don’t need the Migrator feature; still the cloning or migration task can be done manually with the free version of the plugin.
You’d first need to create backup from the source website, for all the data including Database, Plugins, Themes, Uploads and Other. Once done, download each of the files into your computer.
Finally, on the new destination URL, install the same UpdraftPlus plugin and go to the ‘existing backups’ tab on the plugin settings. Then choose ‘Upload Backup Files’. Proceed to drag and drop all the previously downloaded backup files from the source URL, then choose ‘restore’ on the end!
Another option is via ftp.
And that’s how you can simplify the maintenance and restoration process for any website backup!
