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What You’ll Learn

  • Installing the extension and BackupBuddy plugin
  • Managing backup settings globally and per-site
  • Creating backups and backup schedules
  • Managing remote storage destinations
  • Downloading and restoring backup files
Integration Add-on - This add-on extends MainWP to work with Solid Backups (formerly BackupBuddy). Requires Solid Backups to be installed on your child sites.
With the MainWP Solid Backups Extension (formerly Buddy Extension), you can control the Solid Backups plugin (formerly BackupBuddy) on all your child sites directly from your MainWP Dashboard.
This extension was previously known as “MainWP Buddy Extension” when it integrated with BackupBuddy. After iThemes was acquired by StellarWP, BackupBuddy was rebranded to Solid Backups. The functionality remains the same.
This includes giving you the ability to create your child site backups and even set Backup schedules directly from your MainWP Dashboard. Important Notes: The MainWP Buddy Extension requires an active BackupBuddy subscription which can be purchased from StellarWP MainWP Buddy Extension does not support the auto restore feature for the BackupBuddy backups. Backups created by the BackupBuddy plugin can be restored only manually. If you need to restore your site from a BackupBuddy backup, please check the Solid Backups documentation. Backups created by the BackupBuddy plugin are not suitable for the MainWP Cloning and MainWP Auto Restore feature. MainWP Buddy Extension requires the BackupBuddy plugin installed and activated on your child sites.

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Install and Set the MainWP Buddy Extension

Installation of the MainWP Buddy Extension requires two important steps:
  • Installing the Extension itself on your MainWP Dashboard site
  • Installing the BackupBuddy plugin on Child Sites

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Installing the Extension

The MainWP Buddy Extension needs to be installed only on your MainWP Dashboard site. You can install it as any other MainWP Extension.

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Installing the Plugin

For the proper use of the MainWP Buddy Extension, you need to install the BackupBuddy Plugin on your child sites.

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Install from MainWP Dashboard

1

Login in to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Plugins > Install > Upload page

3

Click the Upload Now button

4

Upload the BackupBuddy plugin

5

Select your child sites

Select your child sites
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 button to complete the installation

8

Once the installation is complete, Sync your MainWP Dashboard

For additional help with installing WordPress plugins from the MainWP Dashboard, please review this help document.

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Install directly on the Child Site

1

Login into your child site

2

Go to the WP > Plugins > Add New page

3

Click the Upload Plugin button

4

Upload the BackupBuddy plugin

5

Click the Install button

6

Click the Activate button

For additional help with installing WordPress plugins, please review this help document. After installing the BackupBuddy 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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BackupBuddy Dashboard

From the MainWP > Extensions > MainWP Buddy > Overview page**,** you can monitor all of your child sites where you have the BackupBuddy plugin installed. In the sites list, you will be notified if the plugin has an update available or if the plugin is deactivated.
  • In case the plugin is not activated, the Activate action will appear in the corresponding site row
  • In case there is a new version of the plugin, the Update action will appear in the corresponding site row

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Available Actions

From the MainWP > Extensions > BackupBuddy > Overview page**,** you can hide/unhide the BackupBuddy plugin on your child sites, and quickly access the plugin settings on a child site or the WP Admin section. Actions are provided in the actions menu. If you know that you have the 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 BackupBuddy Settings

The MainWP Buddy Extension allows you to manage BackupBuddy plugin settings. It provides you the ability to manage the following settings:
  • General
    • ImportBuddy
    • Email Notifications
    • Local Archive Storage Limits
    • Database Defaults
    • File and Directory Defaults
  • Advanced & Troubleshooting
    • Basic Operation
    • Logging
    • Technical & Server Compatibility
    • Database
    • Zip
  • Housekeeping Tools
  • Licensing

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Update BackupBuddy Settings on All Your Sites

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Extensions > MainWP Buddy > Settings page

3

Set your preferences

4

Click the Save Settings button

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Update BackupBuddy Settings on a Single Site

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page

3

Locate the site where you want to update the settings

4

Under the Actions menu, click the Edit action

5

Go to the MainWP Buddy Page

6

Click the Settings tab

7

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
8

Set your preferences

9

Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page

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Manage BackupBuddy Backups

The MainWP Buddy Extension allows you to manage the BackupBuddy plugin backups directly from your MainWP Dashboard. It will allow you to:
  • Backup Schedules
  • Create Backups
  • Manage Backup Files

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Remote Storage

The extension allows you to manage Remote Storage options, including:
  • BackupBuddy Stash
  • BackupBuddy Deployment
  • Amazon S3
  • Dropbox
  • Email
  • FTP
  • Google Drive
  • Local Directory
  • Rackspace
  • sFTP
Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated on the child site itself. After that initial authentication, the rest of the setup can be performed via the MainWP Dashboard.

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Backup Your Child Sites With BackupBuddy

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Backup Multiple Child Sites with BackupBuddy

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page

3

Click the Backup button

Click the Backup button
4

Select the Child Sites that you want to backup

Select the Child Sites that you want to backup
5

Choose a backup type (or any custom-made backup profile) and click the appropriate button

Choose a backup type (or any custom-made backup profile) and click the appropriate button

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Backup a Single Site with BackupBuddy

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page

3

Locate the site that you want to backup

4

In the actions menu, click the Edit action

5

Go to the Buddy Page

6

Click the Backup button

7

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
8

Choose if you want a Database or a Complete Backup (or any custom-made backup profile) and click the appropriate button

Choose if you want a Database or a Complete Backup (or any custom-made backup profile) and click the appropriate button

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Create Backup Schedule

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Create a Backup Schedule on Multiple Sites

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page

3

Click the Schedules button

Click the Schedules button
4

Locate the Add New Schedule section

Locate the Add New Schedule section
  1. Add a Schedule name (for your use only)
  2. Select a Backup profile (database, complete backup, or any custom-made profile)
  3. Select Backup interval (time period between backups)
  4. Set the Date and Time of the next (first) run
  5. Optionally, set a Remote destination Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated or configured initially on the child site itself.
  6. Select if you want to delete a local backup after successful upload to a remote destination
  7. Enable the Schedule
5

Select the Child Sites that you want to backup

Select the Child Sites that you want to backup
6

Click the Add New Schedule button

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Create a Backup Schedule on a single Site

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page

3

Locate the site that you want to backup

4

In the actions menu, click the Edit action

5

Go to the MainWP Buddy Page

6

Click the Schedules button

7

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
8

Locate the Add New Schedule options box

Locate the Add New Schedule options box
  1. Add a Schedule name (for your use only)
  2. Select a Backup profile (database, complete backup, or any custom-made profile)
  3. Select Backup interval (time period between backups)
  4. Set the Date and Time of the next (first) run
  5. Optionally, set a Remote destination Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated or configured initially on the child site itself.
  6. Select if you want to delete a local backup after successful upload to a remote destination
  7. Enable the Schedule
  8. Click the Add New Schedule button
Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated on the child site itself. After that initial authentication, the rest of the setup can be performed via the MainWP Dashboard.

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Edit BackupBuddy Schedules

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page

3

Click the Schedules button

4

Locate the schedule that you want to edit

5

Click the Edit Schedule action

6

Edit Schedule Options box will be loaded with your settings

7

Update your settings

8

Update your Child Sites selection

9

Click the Save Schedule button

When editing a schedule created for a Single Site, Site selection is not available, since it’s an individual site schedule. When editing a global schedule, you can Update sites selection. This means the following:
  • If you unselect a child site, the schedule will be deleted from it
  • If you select a new site, the schedule will be added to the site

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Run BackupBuddy Schedules

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page

3

Click the Schedules button

4

Locate the schedule that you want to edit

5

Click the Edit Schedule action

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Manage BackupBuddy Backup Files

MainWP Buddy extension allows you to manage your backup files directly from your MainWP Dashboard. It gives you the ability to:
  • Download your backup files
  • Send Backup files to remote locations
  • Browse & Restore files

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Download Backup Files

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page

3

Locate the site that you want to backup

4

In the actions menu, click the Edit action

5

Go to the MainWP Buddy Page

6

Click the Backup button

7

Locate the backup that you want to download

8

Click the Download action

Click the Download action

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Send files

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page

3

Locate the site that you want to backup

4

In the actions menu, click the Edit action

5

Go to the Buddy Page

6

Click the Backup button

7

Locate the backup that you want to send

8

Click the Send action

9

Remote locations options will appear, set the wanted location and upload will start

Remote locations options will appear, set the wanted location and upload will start

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Browse & Restore Files

1

Login into your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page

3

Locate the site that you want to backup

4

In the actions menu, click the Edit action

5

Go to the Buddy Page

6

Click the Backup button

7

Locate the backup that you want to browse or restore

8

Click the Browse & Restore files action

9

A list of files will appear

10

Select files that you want to restore and push the Restore button.