Tip For Avoiding Down Server Time

[DJilla]

If you've never had to confront the issue of a down server or an argument with your webhost then you're lucky. Protect against the future with this tip and keep current files backed up too!

Register a working domain and host it somewhere, create a file folder named Private or something, create additional various file folders, each for a full website you are running. Exclude the Private folder in your robots.txt file so the websites aren't indexed. Back up regularly to these folders and you'll always be saved from disaster. If you ever have a problem with a down server all you have to do is pull out the website from your Private folder and put it in the root, maybe make some changes to your scripts, add some email accounts, whatever and then change your DNS at the registrar and your up and running within the time it takes to propagate the DNS changes which is usually pretty quick.

You can also use this "backup" domain as a server for your banners.

[jAPAN]

This tips working for very simple sites and its just the top of the iceberg. If you want to be sure, you must backup content and code via rsync, setup database replication, has primary and secondary DNSes at different servers\providers. You should always has serial console for your server, remote reboot, mobile number of your hoster. But better - hire professional admin for that =) Good luck

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by jAPAN

This tips working for very simple sites and its just the top of the iceberg. If you want to be sure, you must backup content and code via rsync, setup database replication, has primary and secondary DNSes at different servers\providers. You should always has serial console for your server, remote reboot, mobile number of your hoster. But better - hire professional admin for that =) Good luck

All good points! Be good to hear more tips. I agree just the "tip" of the iceberg. I probably should have posted this in the Newbie section as it was only really meant for the less complex sites of which there are many, many out there. Though this should work for even those basic LL's running on PHP and CGI scripts.

The really good point you added was the use of secondary DNS's

[Mattinblack]

Personally I carry a couple of half-gig memory sticks with me on my keyring. One has editing suite on and FTP with a text file and install codes and the other has my critical websites on. I have Three different hosting accounts with a couple of domains on each. If anything goes wrong I head for the nearest PC/Laptop and upload the site and alter the nameservers.

I back up the data and scripts from each site once a week. I am prepared for *some* data loss.