What is backup / restore procedures for JForum?

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Hi,

What is the backup / restore procedure for the JForum setup?

Thank you,
Mark
[originally posted on jforum.net by karmen]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

There is no backup / restore procedure.

What are your expections / needs?

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Let's say, coputer dies. I would reinstall OS, install Tomcat, then JForum. Then I would need to restore forum data. Proir to the computer death I would copy anything I want to some media or to other computer so I can save the data.

The other scenario is to port the forum to the other computer.

The ideal solution in my opinion is to do it like jira does. It dumps something to backup directory in accordance to schedule (let's say once per 12 hours). You can backup this directory to the other computer or burn it to CD once per day. Then they have a restore procedure that restores these data to the freshly installed system.

This technics ensures that data would be safe and they could be migrated to other computer at any time.

[originally posted on jforum.net by karmen]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I see. In fact, there is already a request for that: http://www.jforum.net/jira/browse/JF-213

So, now is just a matter of time to implement ;)

Currently, the only way is to dump the database by hand :roll:

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I see. In fact, there is already a request for that: http://www.jforum.net/jira/browse/JF-213

Funny thing that the guy also refers to jira.

Actually, export / import the database is also the acceptable solution. The question is would it be enough? Is all the information located in the database or something (what) is in some local files (f.i. the database connectivity parameters)? The idea is that the setup, configuration and data should be restored.
[originally posted on jforum.net by karmen]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

karmen wrote:The question is would it be enough? Is all the information located in the database or something (what) is in some local files (f.i. the database connectivity parameters)? The idea is that the setup, configuration and data should be restored.

Well, for data yes. For configuration files, no. For that you will need to also copy WEB-inf/config structure.

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I see. Thank you. I will do copy of WEB-INF/config and learn how to do postgres import / export. It should cover backup. For migration I could manage to transfer database tables. I plan to start using system on Debian / Postgress and then migrate to Windows / Oracle. But at the time of migration JForum might have import / export solution.

Thanks, Rafael!
[originally posted on jforum.net by karmen]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Ok, great!!

Any suggestions / bugs, please let me know!

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Rafael Steil wrote:Ok, great!!

Any suggestions / bugs, please let me know!

One could use DBUnit (from www.dbunit.org) to export and import the entire database. The call of DBUnit functions is made thru' ANT tasks, so one could easilsy extend the task to do some extra operations (like copy of the configs).

This way, JForum could have backup/restore almost out of the box.

John.
[originally posted on jforum.net by Anonymous]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

hhm, indeed. Very well put John. I'm going to download it know and try to integrate with jforum.

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Rafael Steil wrote:I'm going to download it know and try to integrate with jforum.

Glad to hear that .

One could extend the use of DBUnit even more(maybe for later versions of JForum ):
"An Universal Forum Migration Task" , i.e. to use DBUnit's tasks to migrate the data from other type of forums.
DBUnit can save the information in differend ways(mostly XML). This XML can be much easier used to "do the migration" since one needs no knowledge of SQL.
The destination of the migration (JFormum DB) is known, and have a known structure, so the only thing that is missing is to define some mappings (if the source DB is compatible at a degree with JForum)
This way it would be possible to do smooth migrations from a lot of forum types to JForum . Even if it doesn't work "out of the box", over such a platform would be very easy to write "plug-ins"/"transformators" that target the differend Forums, thus having very quickly support for them (if it's required by users).
Of course, for the very popular Forums, it would be very smart to already make such "transformators", so that people have a reason to migrate to JForum 8) .

Thanks in advance,

John.
[originally posted on jforum.net by Anonymous]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

In JForum 2.1, there would be needed for backup of attachment files and avatar images.
Maybe this funcation can be provided for user before doing upgrades.
I loss the old data when I doing one test. So I feel this is important.
[originally posted on jforum.net by andowson]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

andowson wrote:In JForum 2.1, there would be needed for backup of attachment files and avatar images.
Maybe this funcation can be provided for user before doing upgrades.
I loss the old data when I doing one test. So I feel this is important.

Well, the installer only has the otpion "Installation". "Upgrade" is not supported yet. I'll put a message saying something like that the databases will be dropped and created again.

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Rafael Steil wrote:

andowson wrote:In JForum 2.1, there would be needed for backup of attachment files and avatar images.
Maybe this funcation can be provided for user before doing upgrades.
I loss the old data when I doing one test. So I feel this is important.

Well, the installer only has the otpion "Installation". "Upgrade" is not supported yet. I'll put a message saying something like that the databases will be dropped and created again.

Rafael

blutopaz Stein wrote: Can u tell me how a attachment for mail enabled. i have seen the "attach files" button in u r site. and i would like to use the same in my forum . can u please reply

Blutopaz

[originally posted on jforum.net by Anonymous]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I personal think, there is absolute no need for an internal Backup-Mechanism for JForum.

There is a easy way to do it your self:

1) If you use MySql use mysqldump to get the whole Database, If you use another Db just look for a similar tool and do it. There is something like this for every DB
2) Make zip file of the whole directory the Forum is in (assuming, that attachments and Avatars are stored there in your specific configuration) and the DB Dump/Backup File
3) FTP the Zip to another System or Backup it with Tape Backup or Burn it to CD/DVD etc.

If you have a normal backup Process (Tape Backup etc.) running on your machine (you should have) you just need step 1 and include the Forum Directory and the Place where the Dump File resides to your backup process.

Both ways are easily automated both in Windows as in Unix/Linux.

Restore is just: Rrestore DB from Dump File, Copy Forum Dir from Zip to where it belongs.

So Rafael: Please use your time for other usefule Features! (Of course, if this is something you really want to do, thats fine and i won't complain ;-) )
[originally posted on jforum.net by Simon K.]