Backup & Best Practices
May 10, 2008
A couple of years ago I was brought on as co owner and admin of a website. Since then we have grown and moved from shared hosting, to a VPS, to a Dedicated Server. Now we are preparing our new website and have a new server configuration chosen.
Currently we run our backups to BQ Internet, who have been fantastic. However the new website will have a lot of videos, currently we have about 14,000 photos at extremely high res (6mb). We have opted for two 500gb HDDs mirrored / raid to ensure we have space for these files and they are backed up.
Now my concern is bandwidth and backing up large amounts of data offsite, would it be beneficial in our case to get a second server locally in the same DC where bandwidth between servers is unmetered?
Is this what most people do? Is it a "safe" option?
What other measures can we take to ensure the integrity of our data, should the server be compromised? Do you on a 3 month or quarterly basis receive backups of your data to your own premesis, or do you just trust it all with your host ?
I'm a bit of a sceptic, so at the moment I have a 150gb per month plan and do a once a month backup locally to my home external HDD, archaic way of thinking yeah?
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Feb 7, 2008
We are starting a new hosting infrastructure.
Starting with:
1 - Linux Plesk server
1 - Windows Plesk server
Each of the above should be a primary DNS server so that customers can use Plesk to manage their DNS settings.
The 'easy button' seems to be to add another IP to each server above and let each also be the secondary.
My understanding is secondary DNS should definitely be on a separate server.
With that said, I was thinking we should have a 3rd server that could be the secondary for either of the above.
The KEY is AUTOMATION. I want it so if someone adds a domain to either of the Plesk servers, the secondary DNS is AUTOMATICALLY added as a secondary to the 3rd server.
I found this tool:
[url]
I think it might work, but we can't be the only HSP using Plesk wanting to keep DNS split across two servers.
What would the best approach be? Seeking something clean and reliable.
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Apr 3, 2009
I've been tasked with developing a default Logwatch configuration for a few dozen servers that will email their findings to a ticketing system. I was hoping to find insight here from users who are using Logwatch similarly. If you have Logwatch emailing a ticket system, I'd love to hear about your custom configs...
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Feb 5, 2008
Nowadays My SQL5 installation in Windows seemed a breeze do not even need to edit the my.cnf files etc. But is there anything we can do to optimize MySQL inside a Windows 2003 environment?
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Jun 14, 2007
Does anyone have any links to best practice papers or whitepapers on datacenter PHYSICAL construction? I am most interested in rack layout, switch positioning and cable runs etc.
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Apr 3, 2008
Last year I tested out 1&1 for registering two domains. What a mistake.
DNS propagation takes forever. Namecheap and godaddy propagate within minutes.
My experience with billing has been unnerving.
I moved my domains away from 1&1 before the year was up. I was still billed for the renewal. I phoned 1&1 and received an email that my account was canceled & credited.
Low and behold today I received a notice from NCO Financial Systems, a collection agency that 1&1 uses, stating I owe $6.99 plus $18.95 in fees.
Going back over my records (I save everything) I see that the Credit memo I received (as an email attachment) was for only one of the domains. Yes they had billed me for the two domains even though they had been transfered away.
Thus the $6.99 allegedly still owed them.
Today I phoned customer service and explained the situation. The rep seen the invoice (on my account) for the two domains and only the one credit memo yet could not figure out what to do. I explained the situation to him three times clearly and he would take no action. I asked for a supervisor and none could be found. I will have to call back or have them call me.
He said they would not be able to credit my account for the NCO fees of $18.95 for the $6.99 they BILLED ME IN ERROR!
I am waiting to call back to speak with a supervisor.
In my eleven years of hosting this the lamest company I have dealt with. Even dreamhost had better customer service.
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Apr 28, 2009
develop and deploy a security strategy to make my single dedi and two VPSes (all with similar hardware configuration and running Linux Centos 5.2+ w/DirectAdmin CP and Xen virtualization), as secure ass possible, both internally and externally.
I hope you'll freely share your best practices, recognizing that is the kind of thread multiple members will read for a long time to find out WHO the WHT experts are and what they recommended this newb do. While I hope you'll read the whole post because I may raise issues either you've never thought about or legitimate security issues you've tried to make others aware of but to no avail, I don't expect everyone to respond to every word of this long post. Please feel free to provide solutions-oriented comments and/or constructive direction, based on your area of expertise, only to the specific issues you want to address.
A little background is helpful:
I'm not a reseller nor will I be running anything that needs DDOS-like protection. I'll be running some virtual OS instances, trying out VoIP software and installing and running a virtual Linux desktop from my dedi and creating a mirror for the VPS for my websites, blogs, and email. One VPS will be the slave server to the dedi. I will be running my own DNS, mail and virtual servers on both VPS and the dedi as well. I'll also be backing up data on one of the VPS. All of these activities, I know, present security issues I need to confront.
I'm looking for primarily open source solutions to protect my small server network since first, it fits my budget and, second, I find most proprietary software restrictive and easier to exploit with backdoors, etc. I'd prefer an open source alternative that's of the same high quality and security as a proprietary service. But, if you think a proprietary product or service far outstrips anything open source and you've deployed it for clients or used it for your own servers, let me know. (I prefer to hear actual, first person, end-user accounts/suggestions.)
I'm a quick study--in fact, warp speed--so can learn what I need to do if I have good direction, (which is why I came here to ask). But, since I'm not yet an expert, please expect clarification questions.
So, here's what I want to know:
1) I will be logging in via secure, encrypted SSH to run commands and manage software but what's the best secure file and data transfer method/software to use? Can I make SSH more secure? Should I run a VPN from one of the boxes? Is using a secure web interface safe for managing or monitoring my server?
2) What's the best firewall for a dedi and will that firewall work for a VPS?
3) Same question for anti-malware (antispyware/antivirus/antispam) software. I see Kasperky and Dr. Web a lot as well as Spamassassin (which is open source) but what are some other options? Aren't server hackers expecting most servers to have the same protection software and doesn't that make them easier to hack?
4) What are some of the ways my servers can be exploited? For example, can others use my email servers to send spam or other servers to commit illegal acts? (I want to avoid getting my server taken down or my IPs blacklisted for someone else's activities). How do I prevent such exploitation?
5) What's the best and safest way to backup and/or sync my servers? What kinds of encryption should I use for the data on my servers? My internal servers like mail, file and virtual servers and appliances?
6) Other than software, what are some of the best methods for protecting my servers from DNS attacks, spam, viruses, hacking, etc.? Should I write specific commands into certain files or run them on a bash shell?
7) Are their GOOD websites or blogs that cover this subject? I can't afford to buy a library of books and wouldn't have time to read them. Also, by the time I do, the information would be outdated. I need to keep up. Finally, I learn best by doing and need to hit the ground running; information needs to be somewhat noob friendly and definitely actionable.
Also, what about implementing general server privacy practices? For example, I invest in truly private domain name registration (read: privacyprotect.org) and, in addition, private DNS for my website and blog domain names. I will be employing other (legal) techniques that prevent to much info from being revealed in my email headers without getting my email sent to spam. In some case, I use encrypted email.
If I'm taking those steps, so, doesn't make sense to implement a strategy that prevents as many people as possible from physically locating my servers in the first place--to force them to spend significant time (and money if they're serious) trying to figure out where my IP addresses goes by using some kind of stealth DNS?
The analogy that comes to mind is using a correctly configured, encrypted and anonymous VPN, SSH tunnel or proxy server to mask the IP address that leads to your home ISP and, ultimately, to your house. Not to protect yourself from law enforcement because if you're doing illegal stuff online, you SHOULD be caught. But to protect myself from nefarious individuals, nosy neighbors, stalkers or ISPs logging your every internet move. Is there a way to do this with my dedi and VPSes, prevent unnecessary location thus targeting, logging, sniffing, etc?
What other things should I be thinking about? Tell me what I'm missing but please don't just share potential nightmare scenarios without telling me HOW to avoid them.
Again, the advice that's most helpful to me focuses on constructive, actionable solutions; what I CAN do, use, implement, deploy, etc. to develop and execute a strong security strategy for my servers. Again, if you share a negative scenario, please share a positive, effective solution. Tell me how I CAN effectively implement best security practices, even as a noob (since we ALL start as noobs, right?),
I already know this won't be easy but I'm up for the challenge and like the control I'll have managing my own servers. So, I'm also not looking to pay anyone else to manage my digital assets (including my DNS) or for average end-user (retail) solutions designed for truly non-technical folks but ineffective for power users. Been there, done that, lost a lot of data, especially lately.
Finally, though I won't totally cheap out, I don't have thousands of dollars to invest in enterprise level services I don't need for just one dedi and two small VPSes. To me, in terms of scale, this is not unlike securing my home network of a couple of laptops and a desktop workstation from drive by hacking and other threats. In addition to open source software, if I can do something myself, I'd rather, than paying someone else.
If I can rebuild my Windows desktop from bare metal (more than once, in fact) and install a home network and secure both as well as any service can, I can do this.
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Apr 12, 2009
Buyer? Seller? How can to do fair practise?
I often sees that when a buyer want to buy something or hire someone, they will be asked to deposited certain amount prior to the work started. I know that this is one way of insurance against scammers and fraud and I have no problem with that.
BUT, what about the buyers? What if they committed to hire a company, given a timeline and when the time comes, the work is still long way to finish or worst, getting a full refund just because the provider decided that they can't deliver the results as promised.
Let's say a buyer hire a company to do custom work. I am pretty much sure that he will not hire another developer as a backup in case the work he's currently outsourced failed. BUT, what if the developer decide to backed out from the deal? What will happened to the buyer's time? He will have to start searching for someone else and start over again. So, by the time he got the job done, he already wasted huge amount of time.
So, I think it would be fair to both parties that a provider should place a TOS stating what will they do if they decided to back off from an ongoing deal.
Yes, this rant came from disatisfaction of my recent fallen deal. I am now way behind my schedule. This is me sharing what I felt right now and no pun intended.
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Jun 2, 2008
Last September, I subscribed to a VPS from buyavps.com to test how WHM and some of our accounts behave if we upgrade from PHP 4 to PHP 5. This was concluded towards early November, but I left the VPS subscription active, thinking later on we might have other cases where I would rather test a server-wide software upgrade in a VPS first.
A couple of months later, in January of this year, I indeed had such a case where I wanted to test something again. After a couple of unsuccessful tries, I opened a support ticket about accessing my VPS, thinking maybe I wrote down a wrong password or whatever.
Imagine my surprise when support told me my VPS account does not exist and asked me whether I have been actually paying for one, then asked me for a transaction ID. This although I had an active subscription at that time, paying monthly for the service.
Actually the subscription just billed again right while support sat on the ticket, writing me this response. After that shock, I went and cancelled the subscription, but I already lost another month's payment. I demanded the money back for a period I was charged for at a time when there was clearly no service any more, plus the period before at the end of which there clearly was no service any more either. Support said they'll forward my ticket to billing, and that was the last I heard.
Still having faith in the company, since it was to my knowledge Tina's company (she was the reason I went with buyavps.com in the first place), I decided to wait for a few weeks for the refund.
After that came months where I forgot about this issue, recently noticing only the e-mails again. Still having faith in Tina, I sent her a PM here on WHT so that she could look into this issue. To which she answered that she sold her part in buyavps.com to another company months ago.
At that point, I sent off another support ticket to buyavps.com, where several people asked the same questions all over again, just to say in the end I am not entitled to any kind of refund. At which I got pissed and told them they stole my money and do I really have to come to a public place to tell the story?
Well here I am - knowing the industry I am not very surprised at how they took my money and provided no service for it. For this, they deserve to be named here and serve as a warning for potential new customers of buyavps.com.
However, I am extremely disappointed in how you can't trust even prominent people of this industry with good reputation any more. I signed up to this service because I trusted the person who ran the company, all payments went to her Paypal account, and at the time this whole fiasco happened she was still (part-)owner of the company. Shrugging it all off is not what I expected.
p.s. I have a number of e-mails for proof and further details if desired, just wanted to keep the size of this post within limits.
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Jan 3, 2007
I have my web server hacked several times and I am beating my head against the wall trying to find the problem(s).
Way back when my sites have been defaced and CHMODing my *.html files to 744 seemed to have done the trick
Now someone has put a phishing site somehow, which by the way I'm not able to remove still, I can't help but to think that I may have more CHMODing to do, I have recursevly set my site to 755, shoud this do the trick? I know I need to chmod .htaccess and alike files to 644, but what about...imagesCGI/PHP?cssetc?
What other steps can I take to secure this thing?
it's a shared host, limited access, but I do have SHELL.
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Nov 11, 2008
I am posting here my experience with Theplanet and also looking to gain insights into unethical practices by hosting providers who are turning into practices of utility and credicard companies. I have been a loyal customer of Serverbeach for 4 years, I have been a loyal customer of Theplanet for more than a year .. I outsource my server administration to admins who setup , configure and manage my servers. Recently Theplanet disconnected our server as our credit card on file expired which I beleive is the right thing to do .. What ticks me off is the fact that they are charging a reconnect fee - FOR WHAT - to click a button? Just Ridiculous. THese dedicated companies are following the path of utility companies and credit card companies which slap various fees on their customers and milking customers .. sure a reconnect fee is understood if the account is not in good standing and such incidents are common on the account . What surprises me is this is the first time in 1+ year and they refuse to waive the fee , it is not the question of fee but the ethics and practices is what I am concerned about. NOw a reconnect fee , what next ? a server restart fee ? which direction are these hosting companies moving towards?
Well I explained the situation and that email is not always the best communication a phone call could have helped. Who would not agree that that single email might have stuck in a junk folder? THey had my full contact information if only they are genuine , they would call and understand what is the issue , have at risk management practices in place so their sales rep could contact me right after 3 days of non payment. But NO they rather wanted me to contact them as they take it for granted that I have been their customer for more than a year and It is not easy for me to move out to a different provider I would not have any option but to pay considering the time and effort involved in migrating to other hosting provider.
ThePlanet - Sorry but on the ethics issue I would not mind spending 100 x the reconnect fee to move to other provider who understands customers.
I am reaching out to all the individuals who sign up with these companies and respond to this post any such experiences.. HIdden fees charged by these companies ? Have you noticed how credit card companies change their billing cycles and you received the bill only to know you missed the payment due date .. ..
That said please let me know which is the best dedicated server company which I can sign up with which does not enforce hidden fees such as these and is ethical and understands and listens to customers.
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Apr 3, 2009
On of our clients use an MS Exchange 2003 SBS server, with exchange for their internal email. We provide them with a domain, ADSL (which uses dynamic DNS) and POP3 email. They don't have an spam filter program on the exchange server itself due to costs, so I have setup each user on the Exim server, which runs ASSPX for anti-virus / spam filter / etc.
Then I setup the SBS 2003 server to pull the email via POP3, but this doesn't seem to work too well, cause the exchange server doesn't always download the POP3 email, and then the users often sit without email until I go there to manually download the mail again.
I have tried changing the MX record to point to their DynDNS address, and it works well, but then they get a lot of spam. And the cost of a server-side spam solution is just too expensive, and they also pay for the bandwidth uses when spam comes in. So, I moved their MX record back to the Linux server. But now I sit with the problem of the POP3 connector failing from time to time.
So, I would like to know, is there a way to "push" (not forward) mail from the Linux server, after it has arrived and spam been blocked, to another domain, but with the same email address? i.e. the domain in question is attorneys.co.za and I've setup attorneys.dyndns.net as the dynamic domain, but the exchange serves email for attorneys.co.za Forwarding email doesn't work, since there's no such user as bob@attorneys.dyndns.net, but rather bob@attorneys.co.za.
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May 17, 2015
I have multiple backups stored under server repository (subscriptions --> <domainname> --> website and domains --> backup manager).
The physical files are located at: /var/lib/psa/dumps/clients/904279/domains/<domainname>/
When I click the green arrow to download these files to a local computer (see attached image) I get a new page with title "Download the backup file". On this page I have the option to set a password on the downloaded file, but no matter what I do (password or no password) the file is not downloaded to my local PC. I don't get a pop-up box with the option to save the file. Just nothing happens ...
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Aug 15, 2014
I have 2 problems:
Firstly I wonder if there is any possibility to limit the number of cores the plesk backup zipping tool uses? This pigz takes up all my CPU. Is there any way I can reduce the amount of cores it uses because all my websites are down every time a backup takes place for around 3 minutes.
Secondly I get the following in my syslog:
1 baby plesk sendmail[20189]: Error during 'check-quota' handler
I don't know what is wrong. I think it's since the upgrade to Plesk 12. I now have 12.0.18 Update #13.
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Sep 17, 2014
I have a 6GB backup file created with another Plesk Backup Manager, now I trying to upload this backup file to my Plesk Backup Manager but after upload 3% I am getting "413 Request Entity Too Large" error, I tried with disable NGINX but still getting this error.
how can I resolve this error or is their any other way to upload my file on backup manager?
I see that Backup Manager have a file size restriction of 2GB how can I increase this?
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Feb 11, 2015
I have an Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64 bit virtual private server with Plesk 12. The server is hired from a hosting provider. The server is used to run the Odoo ERP application (using postgres database).
The Odoo application is running fine and now I want to create a backup of the application using Plesks Backup manager.
I choose configurations and content option in the backup manager but the created backup is only 200kb.
I think the problem is the location where the Odoo application is installed is not included in the backup. I made a tar backup from the server and extracted it on my pc. It seems that the main parts of the Odoo application are in the var, opt, etc and usr directories (not in a domain but under root).
Installing the application in a domain would solve the Plesk backup issue I think but the installation script of Odoo puts Odoo in var, opt, etc and usr directories even if I put the install script in the directory of a created domain. Since the manual Odoo installation is complicated I am very happy to use the script.
My questions are:
1. Is it possible to include the directories var, opt, etc and usr in the Plesk backup and how and where do I do that?
2. Can I restore such a backup without no problem in Plesk?
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Jan 26, 2007
I current do some rsync backups with a command like so every day
rsync -az -e ssh --stats --delete --exclude "stuff" / user@server:/home/user/
What I want to do is have some incremental backups in there in subdirectories. So, for example, something like this on the remote server
/home/user/something.tuesday
/home/user/something.friday
I thought the --backup --backup-dir Switches were used to store just the files that had changed in seperate directories, am I wrong on that?
I've read everything I could find, including the big rsnapshot scripts, but I'm not able to do what I want, it seems so simple but something's not right, am I wrong that subdirs should have just files that are new or have changed. I tried various things like this, but had no luck
rsync -az -e ssh --stats --delete --backup --backup-dir=/home.Thursday --exclude "stuff" / user@server:/home/user/
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Dec 14, 2008
I have transfer full backup with cpanel to ftp backup,
But,How transfer full backup from FTP Backup to cPanel?
Whitch software?
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Dec 16, 2008
my cpanel doesn't get backups. When I force it, it gives me this error:
mount: can't find /backup in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab
mount: can't find /backup in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab
[cpbackup] Backup failed! /bekkaplars is not mounted! at /scripts/cpbackup line 415.
It's a vps. Another interesting thing is, my other 3 vpses run good even /etc/fstab has no line like /backup in there, also.
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Oct 31, 2007
I would like to weight the benefits and costs of using remote backup and local backup to another hardisk? Let's assume the price is the same.
What's the benefits of using remote backup?
Is it secured to use local backup in another hardisk?
I'm running on linux centos.
What happend if hacker get hold of my server?
Currently, i have 80GB of diskspace. Does it mean i will need at least 80GB of ANOTHER hardisk to backup that?
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