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What You’ll Learn

  • Installing the add-on and BackWPup plugin
  • Creating global and per-site backup jobs
  • Scheduling and triggering backups
  • Managing backup files and settings
Integration Add-on - This add-on extends MainWP to work with BackWPup. Requires BackWPup to be installed on your child sites.
Screenshot of BackWPup add-on dashboard showing child sites with backup status With the MainWP BackWPup Add-on, you can control the BackWPup Plugin settings for all your child sites directly from your MainWP Dashboard. This includes giving you the ability to create your child site backups and even set Backup schedules directly from your MainWP Dashboard.

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Installing the BackWPup add-on

The MainWP BackWPup add-on needs to be installed only on your MainWP Dashboard site. You can install it as any other MainWP add-on.

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Installing the BackWPup Plugin

For the proper use of the MainWP BackWPup Add-on, you need to install the BackWPup Plugin on your child sites. The plugin does not need to be installed on the MainWP Dashboard site.

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Install from MainWP Dashboard

1

Login in to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Plugins > Install Plugins page

3

In the Search field, enter BackWPup and press enter on your keyboard

4

After the search results appear, locate the Plugin, select the Install this Plugin option

After the search results appear, locate the Plugin, select the Install this Plugin option
5

Select your child sites in the sidebar on the right

6

In the Installation Options box, make sure that the Activate after installation option is selected

In the Installation Options box, make sure that the Activate after installation option is selected
7

Click the Complete Installation button to complete the installation

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Install directly on Child Site

1

Login into your child site

2

Go to the WP > Plugins > Add New page

3

In the Search field, enter BackWPup

4

After the search results appear, locate the BackWPup Plugin

5

Click the Install button

6

Click the Activate button

Important Notes:
After installing the BackWPup Plugin, it is required to Synchronize your sites, so your MainWP Dashboard becomes aware that the Plugin has been installed and activated.

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BackWPup Dashboard

From the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > BackWPup Dashboard page, you can monitor all of your child sites where you have the BackWPup plugin installed. In the sites list, you will be notified if the plugin has an update available (the row will be highlighted in yellow) or if the plugin is deactivated (highlighted in red).

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Available Actions

Screenshot of BackWPup ellipsis menu showing available actions From the ellipsis menu, you can access the child site’s Overview and Edit pages, as well as the ability to:
  • Hide/Unhide the BackWPup plugin on the child site
  • Open BackWPup plugin page on the Child Site
  • Use the Backup Now action
  • Update the plugin on the child site when an update is available
  • Activate it if it is deactivated

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Important Notes:

If you know that you have the BackWPup plugin installed on a child site, but the child site doesn’t appear in the list, try to re-sync your sites.

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Manage BackWPup Backups

The BackWPup Add-on allows you to manage the BackWPup plugin backups directly from your MainWP Dashboard. This includes:
  • Creating new backup jobs
  • Edit created backup jobs
  • Triggering backup jobs
  • Deleting backup jobs
  • Downloading existing backups
  • Deleting existing backups

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Create a BackWPup Job

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Create a Global Job

Screenshot of Add New Job page with Job Name and Job Tasks options
  1. Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Add New Job page
  2. In the Job Name option box, Enter a Name for the Backup Job
  3. In the Job Tasks option box, set tasks that you want to include in this Job: Database and/or Files
  4. Select the Desired Job Destinations
  5. Next, select the Schedule in the sidebar on the left to configure the Scheduled execution time\ Screenshot of backup schedule configuration options
  6. Next, select the enabled Remote Storage options on the left to configure them\ Screenshot of remote storage destination configuration
  7. Finally, click Save Changes
After you click Save Changes, the add-on syncs this global job to child sites that do not use Override General Settings.

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Create a Backup Job on a Single Site

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites page

2

Locate the site where you want to create a Backup Job, and click on it's name

3

Click BackWPup in the sidebar on the left

Click BackWPup in the sidebar on the left\Screenshot highlighting BackWPup option in site sidebar
4

Click the Add New Job tab, and follow the same instructions as for creating a Global Backup Job

Click the Add New Job tab, and follow the same instructions as for creating a Global Backup Job

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Job Additional Settings

Screenshot of job additional settings for database tables and file exclusions Once the job is successfully created, a new set of options will appear for you, depending on your previous settings. The add-on will allow you to manage Database tables to be backed up (in a Global Job, this cannot be modified), and additional settings for which files to back up or exclude.

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Edit a BackWPup Job

Screenshot of Backup Jobs list with Edit action highlighted

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Edit Global Job

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Backup Jobs page

2

In the list of existing jobs, locate the one you want to edit

3

Click the Edit action

4

Edit job settings

5

Click the Save Changes button

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Edit Job on a Single Site

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites page

2

Locate the site where you want to create a Backup Job, and click on it's name

3

Click BackWPup in the sidebar on the left

4

In the list of existing jobs, locate the one you want to edit

5

Click the Edit action

6

Edit job settings

7

Click the Save Changes button

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Trigger BackWPup Job

Screenshot showing Backup now action in job list

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Trigger Global Schedule

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Backup Jobs page

2

In the list of existing jobs, locate the one you want to edit

3

Click the Backup now action

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Trigger Schedule on a Single Site

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites page

2

Locate the site where you want to create a Backup Job, and click on it's name

3

Click BackWPup in the sidebar on the left

4

In the list of existing jobs, locate the one you want to edit

5

Click the Backup now action

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Delete BackWPup Job

Screenshot showing Delete action in job list

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Delete Global Job

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Backup Jobs page

2

In the list of existing jobs, locate the one you want to edit

3

Click the Delete action

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Delete Job on a Single Site

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites page

2

Locate the site where you want to create a Backup Job, and click on it's name

3

Click BackWPup in the sidebar on the left

4

In the list of existing jobs, locate the one you want to edit

5

Click the Delete action

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Manage BackWPup Backup Files

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Download Backup Files

1

Login in to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Existing Backups page

3

In the top right of the page, select the desired child site from the dropdown, and click Apply

In the top right of the page, select the desired child site from the dropdown, and click Apply
4

Below, in the list of existing backups, locate the one you want to download

5

Click the Download action

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Delete Backup Files

1

Login in to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Existing Backups page

3

In the top right of the page, select the desired child site from the dropdown, and click Apply

In the top right of the page, select the desired child site from the dropdown, and click Apply
4

Below, in the list of existing backups, locate the one you want to delete

5

Click the Delete action

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Manage BackWPup Settings

The MainWP BackWPup add-on allows you to manage the BackWPup plugin settings from your dashboard. If you are using the paid version of the BackWPup plugin on your child sites, go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Settings page, enable the Use premium version toggle, and click Save. This reveals the License and Encryption tabs that are available only when premium settings are enabled.

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Manage BackWPup Global Settings

1

Login in to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Backups > BackWPup > Settings page

3

Set your preferences

4

Click the Save Changes button

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Manage BackWPup Settings on a Single Site

1

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites page

2

Locate the site where you want to create a Backup Job, and click on it's name

3

Click BackWPup in the sidebar on the left

4

Click the Settings tab

5

Set the Overwrite General Settings option to YES and click the Save Changes button

Set the Overwrite General Settings option to YES and click the Save Changes button
6

Set your preferences

7

Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page