Data Backups

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  1. Data Backups

Data backups are the process of creating copies of data so it can be restored after data loss, whether from hardware failure, accidental deletion, corruption, malware, or even natural disasters. For any wiki administrator or user dealing with important information, understanding and implementing a robust data backup strategy is *critical*. This article will cover the fundamentals of data backups, different methods, backup strategies, restoration procedures, and best practices specifically within the context of a MediaWiki installation, though the principles apply broadly.

Why Backups Matter

Imagine building a comprehensive and valuable knowledge base on your MediaWiki. Weeks, months, even years of effort are invested. Now imagine losing it all due to a single server crash or a malicious attack. The consequences can be devastating:

  • Data Loss: The most obvious consequence. Lost articles, images, user accounts, and configuration data are gone.
  • Downtime: Rebuilding a wiki from scratch takes time, resulting in prolonged downtime and disruption for users.
  • Reputational Damage: If the wiki serves a public audience, data loss can erode trust and credibility.
  • Financial Costs: Recovering from data loss can be expensive, involving data recovery services, hardware replacement, and lost productivity.
  • Compliance Issues: Certain regulations require data retention and recovery capabilities.

Regular, reliable backups mitigate these risks. They provide a safety net, allowing you to quickly restore your wiki to a functional state in the event of a disaster.

Understanding Backup Types

Several types of backups offer different levels of protection and flexibility.

  • Full Backup: This copies *all* data on the wiki. It's the most comprehensive but also the most time-consuming and resource-intensive. Important for initial backups and periodic comprehensive protection.
  • Differential Backup: This copies only the data that has changed *since the last full backup*. Faster than full backups, but restoration requires both the last full backup *and* the latest differential backup. Good for daily backups.
  • Incremental Backup: This copies only the data that has changed *since the last backup of any type* (full, differential, or incremental). The fastest backup type, but restoration requires the last full backup *and* all subsequent incremental backups. Best for frequent, small backups.
  • Database Dump: Specifically for MediaWiki, this involves exporting the MySQL (or other database system) containing the wiki's content, revisions, and metadata. This is the *most crucial* part of any MediaWiki backup.
  • File Backup: This refers to backing up the 'images' directory, which contains all uploaded images and other files associated with wiki pages. This is often done in conjunction with a database dump.

Backup Methods for MediaWiki

Several methods can be used to back up a MediaWiki installation. The best approach depends on your technical expertise, server access, and budget.

  • Manual Database Dump (mysqldump): Using the `mysqldump` command-line tool (available on most Linux/Unix servers) is a common method. Example:
   ```bash
   mysqldump -u [username] -p [database_name] > wiki_backup.sql
   ```
   Replace `[username]` with your MySQL username, `[database_name]` with your MediaWiki database name, and you'll be prompted for the password. This creates a SQL file containing the database.  The `wiki_backup.sql` file should be then separately archived and stored securely.
  • phpMyAdmin: A web-based interface for managing MySQL databases. It allows you to export the database as a SQL file. Easier to use than `mysqldump` for those unfamiliar with the command line, but may be slower for large databases.
  • MediaWiki's Built-in Backup: MediaWiki has a built-in backup function accessible through the Special:Backup page ( `Special:Backup`). This allows you to create a compressed archive containing the wiki's configuration files, images, and a database dump. This is a good starting point for smaller wikis.
  • Cron Jobs & Automated Scripts: Schedule automated backups using cron jobs (on Linux/Unix) or Task Scheduler (on Windows). Scripts can be written to perform database dumps, file backups, and archive the results. This provides a hands-off approach to regular backups. Maintenance tasks often benefit from automation.
  • Server-Level Snapshots: Some hosting providers offer server-level snapshots, which create a point-in-time copy of the entire server. This is a fast and efficient way to back up everything, but it may come with additional costs.
  • Third-Party Backup Services: Numerous cloud-based backup services (e.g., Backblaze, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage) can be used to store your backups offsite. This provides redundancy and protection against physical disasters.

Developing a Backup Strategy

A well-defined backup strategy is essential. Consider these factors:

  • Backup Frequency: How often should you back up your wiki? This depends on how frequently the content changes. For a busy wiki, daily or even hourly backups may be necessary. For a less active wiki, weekly or monthly backups may suffice.
  • Retention Policy: How long should you keep backups? A good practice is to keep multiple generations of backups, allowing you to restore to different points in time. Consider keeping daily backups for a week, weekly backups for a month, and monthly backups for a year.
  • Backup Location: Where will you store your backups? *Never* store backups on the same server as the wiki. Offsite backups are crucial for protecting against physical disasters. Consider using a cloud-based backup service or a separate physical server.
  • Backup Verification: *Regularly test your backups* to ensure they are working correctly. Attempt to restore a backup to a test environment to verify that the data is intact and can be recovered. This is arguably the most important step.
  • Security: Protect your backups from unauthorized access. Encrypt your backups using strong encryption algorithms. Restrict access to the backup storage location.

Here's an example backup strategy:

  • **Daily:** Incremental database dump and file backup to a local storage device.
  • **Weekly:** Full database dump and file backup to an offsite cloud storage service.
  • **Monthly:** Full database dump and file backup archived to a separate physical storage device.
  • **Quarterly:** Test restoration of a backup to a staging environment.

Restoration Procedures

Knowing how to restore a backup is just as important as creating one.

  • Database Restoration: If you're using `mysqldump` or phpMyAdmin, you can restore the database using the `mysql` command-line tool or phpMyAdmin. Example:
   ```bash
   mysql -u [username] -p [database_name] < wiki_backup.sql
   ```
   Replace `[username]` and `[database_name]` as before.
  • File Restoration: Copy the files from the backup archive back to the wiki's 'images' directory.
  • MediaWiki Configuration: After restoring the database and files, you may need to update the `LocalSettings.php` file with the correct database connection details.
  • Caching: Clear the MediaWiki cache after restoration to ensure that the changes are reflected. You can do this through the command line or by accessing the Special:AllMessages page and purging the cache.

Best Practices for MediaWiki Backups

  • Regularly Update MediaWiki: Keeping your MediaWiki installation up-to-date with the latest security patches is crucial. Security updates address vulnerabilities that could compromise your data.
  • Monitor Disk Space: Ensure that you have enough disk space to store your backups.
  • Automate Everything: Automate the backup process as much as possible to reduce the risk of human error.
  • Document Your Procedures: Create detailed documentation of your backup and restoration procedures.
  • Consider Version Control: For `LocalSettings.php` and other configuration files, use version control (e.g., Git) to track changes and revert to previous versions if necessary.
  • Implement Access Control: Restrict access to the wiki and backup storage to authorized users only.
  • Test, Test, Test: Regularly test your backups and restoration procedures to ensure they are working correctly.
  • Database Collation: Ensure your database collation is correctly set to avoid character encoding issues during restoration.
  • Large File Handling: For wikis with very large images or files, consider using incremental backups or specialized backup solutions that can handle large files efficiently.
  • Offsite Redundancy: Utilize multiple offsite backup locations for increased resilience.
  • Backup Compression: Compress backups to save storage space and reduce transfer times.
  • Backup Encryption: Encrypt backups to protect sensitive data.
  • Monitor Backup Logs: Regularly review backup logs for errors or warnings.
  • Disaster Recovery Plan: Develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that outlines the steps to take in the event of a data loss incident.
  • Consider Database Replication: For high availability, consider setting up database replication to a secondary server.

Advanced Backup Strategies

  • Point-in-Time Recovery: Using transaction logs or other advanced techniques to restore the database to a specific point in time.
  • Continuous Data Protection (CDP): Continuously backing up data as it changes, providing near-instantaneous recovery.
  • Virtual Machine Snapshots: If your MediaWiki is running in a virtual machine, use virtual machine snapshots for fast and efficient backups.

Resources & Further Reading

Special:Myuserpage Help:Contents MediaWiki Database Server administration Security Maintenance Extensions Configuration Troubleshooting User rights

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