Back up a site (cPanel)
Regular backups of your site on HolyCloud shared hosting protect against failed updates, compromises, and accidental deletions. This guide uses common cPanel tools (JetBackup, Backup Wizard, phpMyAdmin).
Prerequisites
- cPanel access from the HolyCloud client area
- Enough disk space for a local archive (plan quota)
- Optional FTP credentials to export to your PC
What to back up?
| ----------- | --------- |
|---|---|
| Files | public_html, subdomains, .htaccess, uploads |
| MySQL database | WordPress / shop / custom tables |
| If critical: separate export (webmail / IMAP) |
Full backup (Backup Wizard)
- Panel → Files → Backup Wizard.
- Backup → Full Backup (files + DB + mail config — heavy) or partial backups.
- Full Backup:
- Destination: Home Directory (then download) or Remote FTP Server if configured.
- Generate Backup — wait for the completion email.
- Download from Backups / list of generated archives.
Full backups can be long and large; on big sites, prefer separate files + DB.
Files-only backup
- File Manager → select
public_html. - Compress → type Zip Archive →
backup-site-2026-06-21.zip. - Download to your computer.
- Delete the ZIP on the server after download to free quota.
FTP alternative:
lftp -u utilisateur,password ftp.votredomaine.fr -e "mirror /public_html ./backup-local; quit"
Database backup (phpMyAdmin)
- Databases → phpMyAdmin.
- Select the database (e.g.
hcuser_wp123). - Export tab.
- Quick method, SQL format → Go.
- Keep the
.sqlfile with the date in the name.
Command-line export if Terminal is available:
mysqldump -u utilisateur -p nom_base > backup-$(date +%F).sql
JetBackup / HolyCloud automatic backups
Depending on your plan, JetBackup or equivalent appears in cPanel:
- JetBackup 5 (or Backup and Restore).
- Restore and Download or Backups tab.
- Choose the restore point (files, DB, cron).
- Download an archive or Restore to the account (warning: overwrites current data).
Check retention (7 days, 30 days) in your hosting plan description.
WordPress backup (complement)
- UpdraftPlus or Duplicator plugin: export to Google Drive / S3 / FTP.
- Complements panel backups for granular restore (plugin only).
Recommended frequency
| -------------- | ---------- | ----------------- |
|---|
Restore (overview)
- Files: upload ZIP via File Manager → Extract into
public_html(after backing up existing content). - DB: phpMyAdmin → Import → choose the
.sql(max size per plan — split if needed). - JetBackup: point-in-time restore wizard.
After WordPress restore: Settings → Permalinks → Save.
Troubleshooting
| ---------- | -------- |
|---|---|
| Backup Wizard fails | Disk quota full — delete old archives |
| Site broken after restore | Check wp-config.php (DB name, user, host localhost) |
Archive security
- ZIP/SQL files contain passwords — store encrypted off the public web.
- Do not leave
backup.sqlin downloadablepublic_html.
Need help?
Open a ticket with the domain name, backup type (full / DB), and phpMyAdmin or JetBackup error message.