Backing up and restoring a website is a critical task for any website owner or administrator. It ensures the safety of your data and allows you to quickly recover from unforeseen issues like data loss, hacking, or accidental deletions. If Plesk is your website’s control panel, you can use its powerful tools for website backup and restoration. With the help of this blog, you can effectively safeguard your website by learning the process of backing up and restoring a website in Plesk.
The Importance of Regular Backups
As pointed out in our earlier blog post, regular backups act as a safety net, ensuring that you can restore your website to a functioning state in case of data loss or corruption. These backups include all necessary website components—files, databases, emails, and configurations—allowing for a full restoration. Without recent backups, you risk losing critical data, which can affect your online operations and reputation.
Backing Up Your Website in Plesk
Plesk simplifies the backup process, making it accessible even for users without technical expertise. Here’s how to secure your website through Plesk’s backup system:
Step 1: Log into Plesk
First, you need to log into your Plesk control panel. You can do this by pointing your browser to https://example.org:8443 (replace example.org with a domain or IP address pointed at your server) and enter your username and password. Once logged in, you’ll be presented with the Plesk dashboard, which provides access to various website management features.
Step 2: Navigate to the Backup Manager
On the Plesk dashboard, look for the “Websites & Domains” tab and click on it. Here, you’ll find a list of your hosted websites. Choose the website you want to back up and click “Backup & Restore” to open the Backup Manager.
Step 3: Create a Backup
In the Backup Manager of Plesk, initiating a backup is as simple as clicking the “Back Up” option. This launches the backup creation process where you can specify the content to be backed up, including domain configuration by default, with options to exclude “Mail messages” and/or “Databases” as needed. The storage location for the backup is customizable; while backups are stored on the Plesk server by default, you have the flexibility to opt for remote storage if it’s been set up by selecting the appropriate option. Additionally, you’re presented with the choice between a “Full” backup, encompassing all specified data, and an “Incremental” backup, which only includes changes made since the last backup, by selecting the respective option under “Type.”
Step 4: Configure Backup Settings
Before starting the backup, you can configure various settings, such as adding a description for the backup, setting up a backup schedule (for automatic backups), and choosing whether to receive notifications upon completion. Once you’ve configured these settings, click on “OK” to initiate the backup process. The time it takes to complete will depend on the size of your website.
Restoring Your Website in Plesk
Should the need arise to restore your website, Plesk’s Backup Manager facilitates a straightforward restoration process:
Step 1: Access the Backup Manager
To restore your website, you’ll first need to access the Backup Manager in Plesk, as outlined in the steps above. Once there, you’ll see a list of available backups.
Step 2: Choose a Backup to Restore
Find the backup you wish to restore from the list. You can identify the right one by the description, date, and time of the backup. Select the one you wish to restore from based on the date or the specific data it contains.
Step 3: Select Restoration Options
Plesk allows you to perform a full restoration or select specific elements to restore, such as files, databases, or mail accounts. Choose the appropriate options based on your needs. Be cautious, as restoring data will overwrite the existing data on your website.
Step 4: Finalize the Restoration Process
After selecting the data to restore, proceed by clicking “Restore.” Plesk may prompt you to confirm the restoration, as it will overwrite any existing data. Confirm the action to start the restoration process. Just like with the backup, the duration will depend on the amount of data being restored.
Step 5: Verify the Restoration
Once the restoration process is complete, it’s crucial to verify that your website is functioning as expected. Check your website’s front end and back end to ensure all data has been restored correctly and that there are no issues.
Conclusion
Knowing the process of backing up and restoring a website in Plesk is important for any website administrator. By following these steps, you can ensure that your website remains safe and can be quickly recovered in case of any issues. Remember to perform backups regularly and before making any significant changes to your website to minimize the risk of data loss.
Share this post If you find it useful. You may also read our blog about best practices to secure your Plesk account.
