Backup Questions – ie: don't I only have to backup certain files?

Depends on 1) how old your site is (and how often you update it) and 2) what you’re using to back things up.

Images and posts will be in your database.

I always recommend doing a full backup at least once a month. This will cover all posts (and file uploads) you’ve done throughout the past month, as well as any upgrades you made to plugins and themes. You’re covered pretty well that way. but the older your site is (and the more frequently you update) the longer it takes, because the database is that much bigger.

Also, if you’re using a plugin to back things up, and you’re saving the backups within your file system, then the backups are backing up the old backups. it’s always best to back up, and send it somewhere else (not keep it on the server where your installation is) – backing up old backups makes things get HUGE really fast.

Images are in the wp-content/uploads folder, not the database. Information about where they are, what they’re called etc is in the database.

Images are in the wp-content/uploads folder, not the database. Information about where they are, what they’re called etc is in the database.

Sorry, yes. Wasn’t clear on that. The actual image *files* are in the uploads folder, resizing and compression take place with the WP system (and therefore have all that info associated in the database). So you do need to back up the files *and* database regularly. The uploads folder probably needs backing up more frequently than the rest.

Ok, thanks guys. So if I back up my database and my newest images, that will take care of the images. But what about the posts? Where are they? I couldn’t find them in the WP files. I download the xml files regularly, does that cover the posts?

But what about the posts? Where are they? I couldn’t find them in the WP files.

They aren’t in the files. They’re in the database.

Ok, thanks.

So one more question: if my posts and image settings are in the datebase, and I back that up regularly, can I “supplement” those backups with downloading the xml files?

See, I’m actually not totally sure what exactly the xml file is and can’t find the definition anywhere, only instructions on how to use it. Some instructions act as if it’s to reinstall your blog on another site, while others act like it’s sort of a backup – – what is it?

Maybe if you were a little more clear on *why* you want to know this? it seems I’m answering piecemeal questions, and maybe if I had the whole story, i could point you in the right direction.

In any case, the XML file is sort of like an RSS feed. It simply backs up the post and page content on your site. Sometimes it’ll download the backups of the images (but only when you’re importing the XML file, not exporting – so if something has gone wrong and say, your filesystem was wiped, it won’t be able to download the referred-to images in the XML file) it certainly doesn’t back up any settings you have – like your widgets (and widget content), theme settings, menus.

If you want a ull and complete backup, so you have something in case your site is compromised – you’ll want to do a FULL backup if your files *and* database. There’s tons of plugins for that. (My personal favorite is Backup Buddy, but it’s not free.) If it takes a long time to back up your site, I’m wondering if you already have backups, and they are stored on your server, and you’re making backups of backups. That will *certainly* make backups take a while – which is why, when you make a backup, you should download it, or send it somewhere else, and get it off your server. (and if your site is compromised, then the backups that stay on the server could be too. it’s just good practice to put them somewhere else.)

Does that help?

Thank you for your response. The reason I wanted to know about XML files is that they are much quicker to download, a mere few seconds, as opposed to downloading backups to my computer via FileZilla. I don’t use plugins to back up: I like to have full control that I’m being protected. And I’m not making money on my site and don’t wish to pay for a service. So that is why I was asking about using them to “supplement” regular downloads. After reading your response, one wonders why XML exists in the first place, which I guess is what I was trying to get to the bottom of in asking if I could use them to supplement.

Your second paragraph says XML files will sometimes download backups of images but only if you’re importing. I don’t understand what you are saying there. Is it that you can’t access those images unless they’re imported into a WordPress site?

One of the reasons it takes so long to back up my site is I’m downloading all files. The database download goes quick. But when I download files, all the WordPress files take some time, and then my site is image-heavy, so every time I am downloading all the images I already have. <<that is why I was asking specifically what files I could download that would only reflect recent changes.

It seems a waste of time to re-download the same stuff over and over that I already have. I’m trying to figure out a more efficient way.

I keep the last five backups of my site, with copies in three separate places, so I’m definitely covered there.

My site is https://www.halodiehards.net <<images-heavy, with more being added daily. Last time I only backed up the most recent month folder of images, and any other files that had a date post the last update, plus I downloaded the database. If I could do that every time it would take less than five minutes as opposed to forty.

Is it that you can’t access those images unless they’re imported into a WordPress site?

You cannot access those images unless they are still present on the old site at the moment you import into the new one. The import process reads the xml file, contacts the old location and copies the images across.

One of the reasons it takes so long to back up my site is I’m downloading all files.

The only things that you actually need to backup are your database, your orignal images and any customised themes. Everything else can be re-downloaded from the original source. Database backups are relatively small – similar to an XML file in size.

Thank you, esmi. So I don’t have to worry about some file in the WordPress folders that is somehow saving information that my site needs, like settings or something? For example, if I set up a new widget in a sidebar or get a new member or make a change in a plugin setting – – are those things in the database? (thank you all for your replies, hopefully this is the last question ?? )

I don’t have to worry about some file in the WordPress folders that is somehow saving information that my site needs, like settings or something?

There are no such files. All of your settings are saved in your database.