The Symptoms
Lost data, tearshedding, massive re-writes
The Diagnosis
Moronic failure to back-up your data on a regular basis.
The Antidote
Write your drafts in word documents so that you have a backup on your machine even after publishing an article. Additionally, or concurrently, run regular backups of your database.
Why should I care?
Just today, I learned that my database had been switched over to a new server weeks ago and that the site was still pointing to the old server’s database. Today, the old database was shut down, leading to downtime and the erasing of recent posts. The recent posts were easily restored via the cached copy in my feed, but the unpublished drafts waiting for publish are, sadly, lost.
So, be smarter than me and don’t rely on your server’s database to protect your data.
Popularity: 8% [?]
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:33 am
Weeks ago… It was last Friday afternoon…
By the way! I wrote up a tiny article on how to do a simple daily backup by exploiting your RSS feed. Kind of a nifty idea!
The Mysterious Vanishing WordPress Posts
You know, that script would work on OS X too. Plus, I’m sure something comparable could be done with Automator.
And finally, there is a backup plugin for WordPress too. That’d be a nice and easy solution too, and it would’ve covered your unpublished articles. The RSS feed script wouldn’t do that.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:37 am
Lol, we’re so stinking dramatic. I just reread both our articles. You’re talking about “tearshedding”, I’m talking about “lamentable agony”. For crying out loud.
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:34 pm
I have that WP plugin, but I don’t use it every day. I’ll figure it out one of these days. I don’t think it would be a bad idea to have Word Doc versions of at least pillar articles as well, in case it gets published.
Drama is more fun to read, yes? Hehe.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Ewwwwww… Sry I didn’t comment earlier. I must confess I have no worries about yr server. Just mine. Funny enough, I actually deleted my own database on my own server at my house. Then forgot about it. Then wondered why my site wasn’t working. No fun at all.
kudos though. It’s a tough world out there. Someone’s gotta blog it.
Jake