Disaster Recovery Plan for Web Blog
Posted in Web Hosting | By AhTim
Do you aware that there is a disaster at ThePlanet Datacenter 2 weeks ago? The server farm was offline caused by fire and explosion in the power room. The disaster caused 9000 servers down, affecting 7500 customers all over the world! Fortunately, I am not one of the victim. 
I hope this kind of disaster never happen on any of us here. But the bad things always happen at wrong time. We can’t predict what happen next. So, the best practice is setup a disaster recovery plan for your Website or blog. Especially if you make money from blog, you will lost some money if server down for days or even hours.
The Disaster Recovery Plan
The best disaster recovery plan will be setup another server offsite. Sync the data (including files, database, configurations) real time and able to operate in short time once the main server down. I don’t think many blogger afford to do that. It is double of your server operating cost.
I have an idea with no cost! Have you register yourself a free web hosting plan? If not, register now before we move on. After sign up, install WordPress using Fantastico within few flicks. Once your WordPress is up, you are ready to setup your disaster recovery plan.
It is always good to write down and print out your disaster recovery plan instead of memorize it. Most of the people panic and don’t know what to do when disaster happen. Of course, you must always backup files and database ( themes, plugins, WordPress database).
I list down the steps to do during or before disaster. Suggest you to print it out and keep it at easy to access location.
1. Upload files (themes and plugins) to Backup Server (000Webhost in my case). You may want to setup a schedule job to upload automatic monthly.
2. Import WordPress Database to Backup server. For me, I’ll download the backup database from my email since the schedule backup send to my mailbox daily. Suggest you do not import when no disaster to avoid duplicate content.
3. Change DNS (Domain Name Server) IP address. Once setup WordPress correctly, you need to point your domain name to this backup or temporary server. Login to your registrar > edit DNS > insert backup server DNS IP address.
Remember, this is only a contingency plan when disaster happen. It is not a permanent solution. So you will have to do the same steps to port over all your files (if any changes), WordPress database and DNS IP address back to your original server once its up again.
Hope with implementation of this plan, your Website or blog can continue to serve your customer or reader during unforeseen circumstances.
*Our so call Broadband having major problem when I writing this article. Should TM provide us contingency plan for the broadband service?
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June 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Do you really wanna put all your files and data on a host that doesn’t even disclose their address or contact number anywhere in their website or even domain WHOIS?
June 19th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I am using the free webhosting service you mentioned, then how about the recovery plan if the free webhosting service are down?
June 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
@Bryan: Is up to you. But remember to delete off the wordpress db in that temporary server after that.
@Edwin: Then you have to look for another free webhosting service.
June 21st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
My question was actually asking you.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
@Bryan: I’ll do that if really major down on my hosting server.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
actually i manually backup my blog at the end of the month