Question: How Do I Back Up My WordPress Blog or Site? (Part 1)

GEEK LEVEL: MODERATE (SOUNDS GEEKIER THAN IT IS)

Here’s how to set up automatic backups of your WordPress SQL Database (it holds all your pages and posts but none of your plugins, settings, themes, etc.)

Step 1

Install the plug-in WP-DBManager (see documentation for installing Plug-ins here: http://readymadewebdesign.com/blog/2010/03/question-how-do-i-add-a-plug-in-to-an-existing-wordpress-blog/)

WP-DBManager
Manages your WordPress database. Allows you to optimize database, repair database, backup database, restore database, delete backup database , drop/empty tables and run selected queries. Supports automatic scheduling of backing up and optimizing of database.

Version 2.50 | By Lester ‘GaMerZ’ Chan | Visit plugin site

Step 2

After it’s installed you’ll get this message at the top of the screen:

Your backup folder MIGHT be visible to the public

Step 3

To correct this, log into the account’s FTP using Fetch or whatever you use for FTP.
Go to the folder wp-content/plugins/wp-dbmanager
Get (geek-speak for download) a copy of the file htaccess.txt
Go to the folder wp-content/backup-db
Put (geek-speak for upload) the htacess.txt file – but change its name to .htaccess

Step 4

Setup Wp-DBManager.
From your WordPress Dashboard, you’ll see a fancy new button on the bottom left called “Database”
Click on it. It will expand.
Click on DB Options.

Step 5

From Database > DB Options, scroll down to the bottom of the page. You’ll see:

Automatic Scheduling
Automatic Backing Up Of DB

Choose the appropriate settings from here depending on how often you want the DB backed up and where you want the Backup sent to. I like to create a new gmail account specifically for this purpose and have my DB backups mailed there.

That’s it for backing up the Database. You still need to back up the WordPress folders and files, but I do that separately. Here’s how.

Need help? Send me a tweet if you get stuck and I’ll see what I can do to help!