All of our hosting accounts are able to create and keep a full backup of their hosting package using the cPanel. This is advised as a best practice in case your content needs to be replaced or restored. The method necessary for creating a backup depends on your hosting type.
A full cPanel backup makes a copy of all of your files, email, databases, etc. Once initiated, you must allow the backup time to perform. The server can send you an email to an address you specify once the backup is ready to download. The steps for generating, downloading and restoring a full backup are explained in detail below.
This is very important before making any major changes to your site, it is recommended that you backup your website files and any databases used by your website. You can either create backups via cPanel or download files via FTP and download database backups separately (as described below).
In cPanel, using the Backup Wizard, there are two different ways you can generate backups of your account. You can generate and download one backup file of your entire account, which includes all of your files and databases or you can create and download backups of these items individually.
How to generate a full backup in cPanel:
- Log into cPanel.
- In the Files section, click on the Backups icon.
- Under Full Backup, click Generate/ Download a Full Website Backup.
- On the next page, select the Home Directory option from the Backup Destination drop-down menu.
- For Email Address, select whether or not you wish to receive an email notification once the backup is complete. (You may also change the notification email address in the provided field if you wish.)
- Click Generate Backup.
This will generate the back up for you and place the tar.gz file inside of your home directory. You can then download the backup via cPanel, FTP or SSH.
How to Download the Full Backup
To download the backup from cPanel:
- Log into cPanel.
- In the Files section, click on the Backups icon.
- Under Full Backup, click Generate/ Download a Full Website Backup.
- Under Backups Available for Download, click the link for the backup file you wish to download.
- Select a destination on your PC where you would like to save the backup
How to Restore a Full Backup
A full backup must be restored by the root user for the server. We will restore your full backup as long as the back was for an account previously existing on the server and you have provided the backup in the user home directory.
Warning: It is strongly recommended that this process only be used for backups created by the same account from the same server that the backup was generated on.
If either the cPanel username or primary domain are different from those contained in the backup, the restore will encounter errors that will not be eligible for support.
cPanel Restore Prerequisites
To restore a cPanel account, the filename of the backup must use one of the following formats:
- cpmove–{USER}
- cpmove–{USER}.tar
- cpmove–{USER}.tar.gz
- {USER}.tar
- {USER}.tar.gz
- backup-{BACKUP-DATE_TIME}_{USER}.tar
- backup-{BACKUP-DATE_TIME}_{USER}.tar.gz
Additionally, the file must reside in one of the following locations:
- /home
- /usr/home
- /web
- /home2
- /home3
- /root
- /usr
The file may also be selected from your local file system at the time of restore.
cPanel Restore with Root Access
To begin the process for a full restoration of a cPanel account:
- Log into WHM as root.
- Select Restore a Full Backup/cpmove File from the left hand menu.
- Select either Restore with Username or Restore with File based on where you have the file stored:
- Restore with Username: This option will search the server for backup files in the locations listed above from a file already uploaded to the server.
- Restore with File: This option allows you to select the correct backup file from your local file system.
- Select whether to replace all instances of the original server’s IP address with the new address or to only replace basic cPanel-provided A records in zone files (Either option should be sufficient if you are not attempting to migrate data).
- Place a checkmark next to Overwrite the existing user to allow cPanel to overwrite the existing cPanel account.
Warning: If you have a different account on this server with the same cPanel username it WILL be overwritten, destroying the contents of the account.
- Click the Restore button.
The restore process will now begin. Please be aware that the process requires active use of multiple applications, such as MySQL. Do NOT shut down or restart any processes on the server during the restore process.
Compatibility Concerns
Because of changes cPanel has made to the backup system and other system features (for example, Horde) between cPanel versions, there are several compatibility issues in the restoration process which you should be aware of:
- MySQL and PostgreSQL database passwords:In cPanel & WHM version 11.42 and later, the system restores MySQL and PostgreSQL databases to the account, but does not restore the user’s password. This action locks the user out of the databases.The next time the user manages a database with the phpPgAdmin or phpMyAdmin program, the system refreshes the user’s privileges and restores their access.
- Horde:You cannot restore Horde data from cPanel & WHM version 11.50 and later to an earlier version of cPanel & WHM version, it is not backwards compatible. Additionally, backups do not include some global Horde files.
