I have a website that I am having trouble backing up.  It is hosted on
a Linux web server.  The web site has 1094 files yet every time I try
to FTP the entire site in order to back it up I only get 865 files.

My host backs up the web server on a regular basis and aren't exactly
sure why this is happenning.  I would feel a lot more comfortable if I
had a copy of the site on my computer.  In fact I want to automate my
FTP software to backup the website nightly but until I can figure out
why 229 files aren't being backed up there isn't much use.

Can someone out there help me figure this out?

Sincerely,

Melissa

---

Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 14 Oct 2004 14:25 PDT

Howdy Melissa,

Along the lines that mel_dvm-ga inquires about, are the files nested within
multiple directories?  If so, how "deep" are the files, that is, how many
directories within directories are the files?  Are all of the files of the
hyphenated, or within hyphenated directory named nature?  If there are any
exceptions, if you give some examples of those well, that would be greatly
appreciated.  If you can check the permissions of the example files for a
pattern, etc. that wouldn't hurt.  Thanks!

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by mel_dvm-ga on 19 Oct 2004 11:17 PDT

Change of Category.

---

Clarification of Question by mel_dvm-ga on 21 Oct 2004 12:37 PDT

denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher,

I clarified your question below in the comments section.

Thank you!

Melissa

mel_dvm-ga:

Can you give us some more information (example names of files that
don't get backed up, and if this is consistent every time you try to
back them up)?

You may want to look at the filenames and inspect them for embeded
spaces (some command line FTP tools may have trouble with them.  Also,
linux/unix will permit starting a filename with a dot (hidden file)
where MS Windows won't.

--
I am not a GA researcher.

athena4-ga,

There aren't any files like .htaccess or files with spaces etc.

At most the files have hyphens between words like angel-investors.html
or purchase-order-financing.html but that is it.

Let me know if you have any other ideas.

Thanks,

Melissa

mel_dvm-ga:

Sorry for the delayed response. 

1.  Please try a different FTP client and see what happens (WS-FTP LE
from http://www.ipswitch.com/  - the home version, for instance).

See if that gets all the files.

If that fails, try step 2
2. 

a. On the windows C: drive (for example), create a folder called temp-ftp 

b. On Windows START -- RUN and type CMD.EXE (to open a command window)

c. In that window, type C:\temp-ftp (to change to the directory you created)

d. Type FTP ftp.site.name.here
and login using your username and password
(change into the right directory with your files using the "cd
directory" command as needed (without quotes))

e. type bin (for binary mode)

f. type mget *  (to get all files)

g. type bye  (to quit)

h. type DIR in that window (to list files in the c:\temp-ftp directory).

See if all your files are there.  

(One variation to try, in step 2 e.  "ascii" without quotes, instead
of BIN for text files).

See if that helps.  If not, if it is a public website, would you mind
providing the URL?


--
I am not a an oficial GA researcher.

If the site contains active components, like a SQL server, weblog,
chat page, hit counter, etc.. there will be files listed in the site
that are non-downloadable as they are in use at the time. Also, as
athena4 mentioned, if you do not have read permissions on the files,
you will not be able to download them.

You say that you see 1094 files, but only download 865. Where are you
seeing this? As in, what program?

Best of luck,
Wiz

To: denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher;

Sorry for taking so long to respond.  I didn't see your request for clarification.

The files are not nested. Everything is currently in the root
directory.  The site is NOT LIVE so I can't show you the files
directly.  Examples of files that are not being copied include:

http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Accounts-Receivable-Factoring-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Business-Notes-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/CASH-FLOW-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Equipment-Financing-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Equipment-Leasing-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Factoring-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Factoring-Companies-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Inheritance-Funding-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Invoice-Factoring-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Life-Settlements-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Lottery-Winnings-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Purchase-Order-Financing-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Purchase-Order-Funding-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/REAL-ESTATE-NOTES-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Structured-Settlements-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Unsecured-Business-Loans-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/UNSECURED-LOANS-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Unsecured-Personal-Loans-01-01.html
http://www.sovereignfunding.net/Viaticals-01-01.html

Please don't hesitate in contacting me if you need further clarification.

Melissa

athena4-ga,

I tried all that and it still left out files :(

Thanks for the suggestion.

The website is SovereignFunding.net but it isn't live yet.

Sincerely,

Melissa

thawiz-ga,

There are no database files present.

It is hapenning using WS-FTP Pro.

Could this be a Linux to Windows issue?

Melissa

mel_dvm-ga:

What happens if you try to "get" one of those non-gettable files from
the CMD/DOS ftp window (step f) by typing the full filename?  Is it
then received or do you get any error messages?

(Another FTP client to try is Kermit.)