X-Cart: shopping cart software

X-Cart forums (https://forum.x-cart.com/index.php)
-   Third Party Add-Ons for X-Cart 5 (https://forum.x-cart.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64)
-   -   Backup Master module (https://forum.x-cart.com/showthread.php?t=73982)

xplorer 05-18-2016 10:44 AM

Backup Master module
 
Hi!

We have released a new module for X-Cart 5 - "Backup Master"!



With this module you can create full backups of your online shop. Later, in case of any server or software issues with the website, you can restore your shop to a working condition from these backup files.

Feel free to ask any questions about the module in this forum thread.

Thanks!
Slava

kevinrm 05-18-2016 11:35 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
That looks good to me. Where is the backup kept, however? Is it scheduled? Will it upload to Dropbox, etc?

xplorer 05-18-2016 01:12 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
This module works with manual backups only and store files in the var/tmp/ directory on the server.

But there is a "pro" version of the module that is being developed at the moment. This version will create automatic backups and store archives on cloud services. Plus other interesting things :-) Stay tuned.

hartwellj 05-18-2016 02:30 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
I hope this is a FULL 1:1 backup and restore, including database and all files and .httaccess. Many backups say backup, but you still have to do some manual work to get it working.

I'm not convinced. There are the files, the database, and the hidden files to all restore.

kevinrm 05-18-2016 07:20 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
I will buy the "Pro" version when it comes out as long as it is reasonably priced. There is a similar backup module I used on XC4.6 that would automatically backup the shop and upload it to DropBox on a scheduled basis, it worked well for me.

I think it's important to save backups off site, you never know when your whole damn server will die on you.

xplorer 05-18-2016 10:25 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by hartwellj
I hope this is a FULL 1:1 backup and restore, including database and all files and .httaccess. Many backups say backup, but you still have to do some manual work to get it working.


The module creates archive files and includes files and database tables that are parts of X-Cart 5. To restore the site you should unpack the archive to the server and import the dump from the archive to the database.

If you have third-party database tables, or have scripts that are not installed as XC5 modules, or store files/resources outside of "images", "files" and "public" directories, you may need to backup these 3rd-party files manually.

cflsystems 05-19-2016 09:28 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
This repeats the mistake the XC4 module does. Backup everything within the XC installation directory and everything within the XC database. Not selectively only XC stock files/tables.
This is not full backup and defeats the purpose of having it if user still have to do manual backup of 3rd party modules.

Who will purchase this module? An advanced user will not purchase it as he/she can do this without the module especially if there is still manual backup to be done.
The module is useful to a person that doesn't know how to create these backups and yet you are still asking them to do manual backups in addition to the ones module does...

This is a great module as long as it fully backs up the XC working directory and database.

xplorer 05-19-2016 10:54 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

This is not full backup and defeats the purpose of having it if user still have to do manual backup of 3rd party modules.


It does include 3rd-party modules into the backup. What I say is that it won't include files from, for example, "mydata" directory because X-Cart 5 knows nothing about that directory. The same is for the database - it will include tables of 3rd-party modules.

cflsystems 05-19-2016 12:46 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Let's say the cart is installed in root. There is a directory in root which is not stock XC5. Will the backup include this directory?

Or more simple question - does the module backs up everything found under the cart installation directory and everything found within the cart database?

I don't expect if cart is installed under "store" subdirectory the backup to include "test" directory under root but everything under "store" should be included.

kevinrm 05-19-2016 09:39 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
From my point of view, I don't want it to backup everything in the root, only the X-Cart related items. For example, I have an autoresponder in the /auto directory, I don't want this thing backing that up - only X-Cart items.

Triple A Racing 05-20-2016 12:25 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by xplorer
We have released a new module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master

This maybe a good idea for some users but for others.....aren't comprehensive and selectable backups both simple, available and free anyway? (albeit only manually done at present) That is assuming you have the correct server access? (and in this example using Apache)

Two simple steps:

Backup (manage as well of course...) all the relevant SQL data via https://www.phpmyadmin.net

Back up all / some / selected items / directories / files etc remotely (via SSH) and relevant simple specific remote commands e.g.

tar -zcvf backupdate-live.tar.gz --exclude= /****/****/public_html/spare

(Or write simple a backup script(s) and run the script(s) command remotely)

You can then copy the backup or backups to an alternate remote / non-server storage area too e.g.

rsync -va --progress login_details:/source/ /destination

Backups we don't find a problem and we can't see us ever needing a module to do them (sledgehammer to crack a nut?) but it's obviously different for everybody dependent on their own setups

However....backing up both CORE and Modules that still don't work properly aka as they should 8O
Yes, we do find annoying because we're actually just making interim back ups of faults until these are (eventually) rectified.

xplorer 05-20-2016 05:31 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Let's say the cart is installed in root. There is a directory in root which is not stock XC5. Will the backup include this directory?

It will not include this directory. The module creates a backup of the X-Cart 5 based shop only.

Quote:

Or more simple question - does the module backs up everything found under the cart installation directory and everything found within the cart database?

The dump will include only the tables having the same prefix that is used for XC5 tables. Other tables are not included into the dump.

If someone stores files in extra directories / extra database tables (that XC5 knows nothing about), I believe he/she knows what he/she is doing and can either create the backup from the console, or can alter the module's class method that returns the list of directories and files to include into the archive.

But this should not be the problem for a lot of "stock" X-Cart 5 shops and XC5 shops with custom modules developed as per the documentation.

Quote:

Backups we don't find a problem and we can't see us ever needing a module to do them (sledgehammer to crack a nut?) but it's obviously different for everybody dependent on their own setups

Well, if you want to create backups from the Linux console manually, you don't need this module. Unless you don't have the SSH access.

cflsystems 05-20-2016 08:57 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
I think there is a need for module like this. Definitely some users want to double on the backups and not rely on the host only and these users are not knowledgeable enough to mess with the console.

Ok Slava this could be included in your Pro version:
- on the backup page have a list of all directories/files the backup will not include by default and allow user to select any of them to include
- same with database tables

This will satisfy Kevin's requirement too ;)

cherie 05-20-2016 10:18 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
All tables in the X-Cart database should be included in the X-Cart database backup.

cflsystems 05-20-2016 12:02 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cherie
All tables in the X-Cart database should be included in the X-Cart database backup.

Yes I still think the module should backup all files/directories and entire database regardless

kevinrm 05-20-2016 06:44 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
It's not really a matter "if" I can do a manual backup, I can. It's a matter if I have time to do it, among the multitude of other things I have to do everyday. Looking for something that can be set up, it backs up x-cart, uploads it to Drop Box (or other offsite location), on a scheduled basis, I have backup files in case the whole server dies, and I don't have to think about it anymore. That's what I'm looking for, anyway.

xgarb 05-23-2016 06:27 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
A better approach might be a system where a remote storage system is somehow permitted to access all files and the database over some secure connection and pulls the data into the backup.

This way if someone gets onto your server they can't attack the backups as well as the server with X-cart installed doesn't have access to the backups.

qualiteam 05-23-2016 09:58 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
I've removed a number of messages that are off-topic to this forum thread.
You are welcome to give your feedback on the module there, but please keep discussions on how backups work in X-Cart 4, or how you can create backups through the Linux console, in separate forum threads.
Thanks!

Triple A Racing 05-24-2016 12:57 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by qualiteam
I've removed a number of messages that are off-topic to this forum thread

No problem with that action (some were ours, some were not) as we don't own or manage the forum.

Database backups / restores (SQL only) were a free core function in the old XC4 that we used and have been accurately replicated in XC5 under the Tools section. Some other free core functions from XC4 however have only re-appeared in XC5 as 'paid' add-on modules, which does not feel like progress to end users who have made the product change (like us)... Added to this, is that there are still no visible signs of, or discussions about (yet...) access to changelogs for modules and you can see why people may want to discuss alternatives to the theory that 'modules are the only way...' :D/

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/50440624/Z-Forum/IMG_8171.jpg

Please consider that viewing from a perspective (different than your own) is also important for other forum members. After all, this isn't a new, online evo-version of the old Pravda! 8O

rocky 05-24-2016 01:45 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Guys,

Thank you very much for the feedback on this module.

It's true that this module is not aimed to the experienced and tech-savvy X-Cart users. They can do backups on their own and it's not hard if you know how to do it (we can say the same about almost everything). Moreover, backups can be done through the hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk and so on). It's not that convenient though since you back the entire account up, not only X-Cart store. It might take some time to create such a backup and restore it then. Furthermore, sometimes you don't need to restore all the account and just need X-Cart files to get your store back online as soon as possible.

The module is aimed to that part of X-Cart community who doesn't know how to create backups at all, they don't have time to learn and just don't want to learn and it's their right.

What can be simpler than creating a backup with only 1 button from admin area? I guess nothing.

Yes, you might be not that tech savvy to restore the backup, but you can contact us and we can help you. At least you'll have a backup copy your X-Cart store can be recovered from.

Believe it or not, but numerous of time our customers came to us saying that their store is messed (server went down, developer messed files, upgrade went wrong and so on) and they don't have a backup. None. At all. Their hosting didn't do backups and they didn't know how to do it on their own.
Nightmare scenario. You have to start everything from a scratch.

With this module X-Cart client can do a one-button-click backup before updating an inventory or upgrading the store and be safe.

The module is just released and hasn't been announced yet (apart from this forum thread), but it's already been sold several times. Our customers likes an idea of creating a backup with one button directly from admin area.


We do really appreciate all your suggestions and will definitely take them into consideration while working on Pro version.

Thank you.

Jon 05-24-2016 07:41 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky
At least you'll have a backup copy your X-Cart store can be recovered from.


What is the point in restoring from a backup that doesn't have all the database fields and files required to properly restore?

xplorer 05-24-2016 08:01 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Thank you, guys, for the feedback and suggestions!

The ability to include custom database tables and files is a good improvement and we have it in our plans for the "Pro" version.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon
What is the point in restoring from a backup that doesn't have all the database fields and files required to properly restore?


Well, although most shops don't have any 3rd-party (non-X-Cart) database tables, I saw a number of websites having X-Cart installed along with third-party software in the same database. Let's say you install a custom module and it crashes the shop. There is no need to revert other software to the state that it was a month ago. Moreover, reverting all database tables and files to their past state may result into the loss a month of forum discussions, for example.

rocky 05-24-2016 08:07 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon
What is the point in restoring from a backup that doesn't have all the database fields and files required to properly restore?



Sorry for answering with a question on a question, but what's the point of having custom (irrelevant to X-Cart) fields in one database?

As xplorer said if a custom feature is developed as a module for X-Cart (that can't be the other way in X-Cart 5) it will be dumped as well.

So, you'll restore your cart to the 100% working state.

cherie 05-24-2016 08:10 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
I'm more concerned with custom tables that support X-Cart. Unrelated tables are collateral damage.

rocky 05-24-2016 08:20 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cherie
I'm more concerned with custom tables that support X-Cart. Unrelated tables are collateral damage.



Custom tables which are part of custom tasks developed as X-Cart modules will be backed up as well.
If it's a custom module and it's installed using default modules installation procedures then X-Cart "knows" about these tables and will include them into backup created by Backup Master.

xplorer 05-24-2016 10:25 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple A Racing
Will this then also be the first module that actually has a detailed changelog issued each time it is upgraded?


I will provide (in this forum thread) information on changes when releasing new versions of the module, like I do for other my modules (for example, for Shop by Brands module: v5.2.5, v5.2.6, v5.2.7, v5.2.8).

Also, I include information on changes in the Main.php script that you can find in the module's directory (classes/XLite/Module/QSL/{module_code}/Main.php).

kevinrm 05-24-2016 10:39 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Are the backup files compressed? If I remember right, when I backup the MySQL database from cPanel they are compressed and the stock admin MySQL database backup is not. Just makes it easier to download when they are compressed.

xplorer 05-24-2016 10:49 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Yes, the module compresses files and the database dump into a zip archive (or tar/tgz/tbz if ZipArchive extension is not enabled in your PHP server configuration).

xplorer 05-30-2016 03:20 AM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
I've uploaded the 5.2.1 version of Backup Master module to the marketplace server.

This version:
- improves the logic that selects files to be incldued into the archive (now it selects all files inside var/ directory except var/tmp/, var/log/ and var/backup/ subdirectories)
- fixes the issue with the backup process hanging up due to restricted directory access permissions
- improves the error reporting and adds a number of detailed error messages
- fixes the bug in checking the free space on the disk

xplorer 05-31-2016 03:54 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
The new 5.2.2 version of Backup Master module implements a few optimizations that decrease the memory usage when creating backups.

kevinrm 06-05-2016 09:16 PM

Re: New module for X-Cart 5 - Backup Master
 
Just want to say I purchased this and I like it. I'd like it even more if it uploaded the backup to Dropbox on a scheduled basis, but as is it's good for the price and does make life a bit simpler.

xplorer 07-08-2016 12:03 AM

Re: Backup Master module
 
The new 5.2.3 version of Backup Master module does not include var/datacache and var/resource directories into backup archives as this may cause the backup process to stop with an unpredictable error in some environments.

These directories store cached files and X-Cart 5 recreates them automatically from other files. So, not having them in backups is not a problem.

xplorer 07-28-2016 12:44 AM

Re: Backup Master module
 
The new 5.2.4 version includes further improvements in dealing with var/datacache and var/resource directories (in some cases these directories were still included into archives).


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