How to Transfer WHM Backup Using FTP

Transferring WHM (Web Host Manager) backups using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an essential skill for web administrators. This process ensures that your critical website data is securely transferred and stored, providing a reliable backup solution in case of data loss or server issues.

In this post, we will take you through the steps needed to effectively transfer WHM backups using FTP.

Getting Started

Web Host Manager or WHM is a powerful tool used for managing multiple cPanel accounts on a web server. One of its critical features is the ability to create and manage backups of websites, databases, and email accounts. Backups are vital for restoring websites in case of server failures, hacking incidents, or accidental data loss.

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. Using FTP to transfer WHM backups ensures that your backup files are securely moved to an external location, providing an additional layer of data protection.

Prepare Backup Transfer

Before you begin transferring backups, you must ensure that WHM’s backup functionality is enabled and properly configured. Follow these steps:

Access your WHM account by logging in with your root or reseller credentials.

In the WHM dashboard, search for “Backup Configuration” and select it.

Ensure the “Enable Backups” option is checked. Configure the backup settings according to your requirements, such as backup retention period, backup type like full or incremental, and backup schedule.

FTP Client

To transfer WHM backups using FTP, you will need an FTP client. Some popular FTP clients include:

1. FileZilla: A free, open-source FTP client that supports FTP, SFTP, and FTPS.
2. WinSCP: A free SFTP and FTP client for Windows.
3. Cyberduck: An open-source FTP client available for both macOS and Windows.

Download and install the FTP client of your choice before proceeding to the next steps. For this guide, we will use WinSCP. First, you need to install WinSCP on your Windows system.

Generate WHM Backups

Once you have confirmed that WHM backups are enabled, you can generate backups manually or wait for the scheduled backup to run. To create a manual backup:

1. In the WHM dashboard, search for “Backup” and select “Backup Now”.

2. Choose the accounts you want to back up or select “All” to back up all accounts.

3. Click on “Generate Backup”. WHM will begin creating the backup files.

Configure FTP Settings

To transfer backups using FTP, you must configure your FTP client with the correct FTP server settings. Here’s how:

1. Launch the FTP client you installed earlier.

2. In the FTP client, create a new site profile with the following details:

• Host: The IP address or domain name of the FTP server.
• Port: The default FTP port is 21. For SFTP, use port 22.
• Protocol: Select FTP or SFTP, depending on your server setup.
• Encryption: Choose “Use explicit FTP over TLS if available” for secure connections.
• Logon Type: Select “Normal” and enter your FTP username and password.

3. Save the site profile to easily connect to the FTP server in the future.

Transfer Backups Using FTP

1. In your FTP client, open the site profile you created. Click “Connect” to establish a connection to the FTP server. If prompted, accept the server’s SSL certificate.

2. On the local side of your FTP client, navigate to the directory where WHM stores its backup files. The default directory is /backup or /home/backup.

3. Select the backup files you want to transfer.

4. Drag the selected files to the remote side of the FTP client, which represents the FTP server directory where you want to store the backups.

5. The FTP client will begin transferring the selected files to the FTP server. Monitor the progress to ensure all files are successfully uploaded.

Verify Backup Transfer

After the transfer is complete, it is essential to verify that the backup files were correctly uploaded to the FTP server. Here’s how:

1. Compare the file sizes of the local backup files with those on the FTP server to ensure they match.

2. Download one or more backup files from the FTP server and test them to ensure they are not corrupted and can be restored.

Best Practices

Following are some best practices to ensure smooth backup management on WHM using FTP:

• Schedule regular backups to ensure you always have recent copies of your data.
• Store backups in multiple locations including offsite storage for added security.
• Periodically verify the integrity of your backups by restoring and testing them.
• Use encryption to protect sensitive data in your backup files.
• Ensure that the FTP server has enough disk space to store the backup files.
• Some FTP servers have file size limits. Split large backup files into smaller parts if necessary

Conclusion

Transferring WHM backups using FTP is an important task for web administrators to ensure data safety and availability. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively transfer your WHM backups to an FTP server and implement best practices for backup management.

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