Achieve success and retire, data as the foundation: Data backup strategy before AnQiCMS project is disabled or deleted

As an experienced website operations expert, I know that each content management system carries more than just text and images; it is also the digital asset of the enterprise brand image, marketing wisdom, and even the core business logic.For an enterprise-level content management system like AnQiCMS, which is based on Go language and is known for its efficiency, security, and customization, the value of the data it manages is self-evident.

When a decision is made to suspend or completely delete an AnQiCMS project, our primary consideration is how to "be foolproof" in performing data backup, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.This is not just a technical operation, but also a respect and protection for digital heritage.In the end, data is the lifeline of a website, whether for future data migration, compliance audits, or simply as a precious historical archive, a complete and reliable backup is crucial.

Next, let's talk in detail about how we should perform a comprehensive data backup before AnQiCMS project bids farewell to the stage.

一、核心动脉：数据库的完整备份

The powerful functions behind AnQi CMS are inseparable from the support of the database.All content of the website (articles, products, pages), user data, system configuration, SEO settings, category tags, comments, and so on, are safely stored in the database.Therefore, making a full backup of the database is the core of the entire backup work.

AnQiCMS在部署时通常会搭配MySQL数据库。备份MySQL最稳妥的方式是使用EnglishmysqldumpThis tool can export all data, table structures, stored procedures, and more from a database into a single SQL file.

If you have manually deployed AnQiCMS on a Linux server and directly installed MySQL, you can connect to the server via SSH and execute commands like this:

mysqldump -u [数据库用户名] -p[数据库密码] [数据库名称] > /path/to/your/backup/anqicms_db_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S).sql

Please make sure to put[数据库用户名]/[数据库密码]and[数据库名称]Replace it with the information you actually use./path/to/your/backup/This is the directory where you want to store backup files. For easy management, I am used to adding a timestamp to the file name, so that it can be clearly known when the backup was made.

If your AnQiCMS is deployed in a Docker container, such as through 1Panel or aaPanel installation, then the database usually also runs in an independent Docker container. At this time, you need to first find the ID or name of the MySQL container, then throughdocker execCommand to enter the container and execute backup:

  1. First, obtain the ID or name of the MySQL container:docker ps
  2. Then, execute the backup command (assuming the MySQL container name is:mysql):docker exec -it mysql mysqldump -u root -p[root密码] [数据库名称] > /path/to/your/backup/anqicms_db_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S).sql

It should be noted that,[root密码]The password you set for the root user when installing MySQL on Docker. The backup files will be stored on the host machine./path/to/your/backup/directory, not within the container.

English, Flesh丰满：File System的Full Copy

The 'flesh' part of the AnQiCMS website, in addition to the database - various static files and core configurations - is also indispensable.This includes the resources such as images, videos, attachments, and template files that you may have personalized, as well as the configuration files crucial for the system to run.

  1. English, User uploaded resources：English, Usually located in the AnQiCMS installation directory./public/uploadsThese files carry the visual and auxiliary information of the website content and are indispensable.
  2. Website template files:Located in the AnQiCMS installation directory/template。If you have done any secondary development or customization on the default template, these files are the fruits of your valuable labor.
  3. Core configuration file:)In the installation directoryconfig.jsonFiles, although many settings can be adjusted in the background, this file contains basic configurations such as database connections and port settings, which are critical for system startup.

Backup these files, the most direct way is to package the entire AnQiCMS installation directory. In the Linux environment, you can usetarcommand to compress and package:

cd /path/to/your/anqicms/root/directory
tar -czvf anqicms_files_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S).tar.gz .

This command will package and compress all files and subdirectories under the current directory (i.e., the root directory of AnQiCMS) into one.tar.gzMake sure you execute this command.cdReached the root directory of AnQiCMS.

If you have configured external storage, such as cloud storage services, through the 'Resource Storage and Backup Management' feature of the AnQiCMS background, then the website's images and other resources may already be stored remotely.In this case, you need to confirm whether the data in these external storage has also been safely backed up, or whether they are independent of the AnQiCMS project lifecycle.config.jsonStill needs to be backed up separately.

3. Special considerations in a multi-site environment.

AnQiCMS's one of the highlights is its powerful multi-site management capability.If you have set up and managed multiple sites on an AnQiCMS instance, you need to be particularly meticulous when performing backups.

According to the document, AnQiCMS multi-site deployment allows each site to have an independent database name and site root directory (for example/app/dev_anqicms.com)。This means:

  • Independent database backup:Each sub-site has its own database. You need to back up the database for each sub-site individually, just like backing up a single AnQiCMS project.
  • Independent site directory backup:Although the core program files may be shared, the specific data (such as cache, possibly existing independent configurations, or uploaded files) of each sub-site will be stored in its dedicated directory.You need to make sure that the files in these specific directories are also packaged and backed up./app/Start with the domain name replaced by underscores, such as/app/dev_anqicms.com.

切记，多站点环境下的备份工作要针对每一个“独立运营”的子站点，确保其数据和文件都被完整、独立地保留下来。

Four, Verification and Storage after Backup

Simply executing the backup command does not mean that you can rest easy. The validity of the backup files is crucial, and an appropriate storage strategy is also important.

  1. Backup file verification:After completing the backup, I strongly recommend that you perform a simple verification of the backup files.For example, try to unzip the package and check if it contains the expected database files and directory structure.If conditions permit, even try to restore some data in a separate, temporary environment to ensure the integrity and availability of backups.
  2. Multi-regional storage strategy:Avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.Store backup files in at least two different physical locations: one can be saved on another hard disk of the server or in network storage (for quick recovery), and the other should be downloaded to the local computer or uploaded to a reliable cloud storage service (such as OSS, cloud disk, etc.).For extremely important data, offline storage can even be considered.Encrypt backup files, which can further enhance data security.

Concluding remarks

Stop or delete an AnQiCMS project, marking the end of a phase.At this important juncture, a complete and reliable data backup is the best monument to our past efforts, and it also leaves behind precious wealth for future possible needs.It can not only help you avoid potential data loss risks, but also give you a sense of security and peace of mind when the project is successfully completed.Let us develop good backup habits so that the value of digital assets can be sustained forever.

Common Questions and Answers (FAQ)

Q1: AnQiCMS backend has the 'Resource Storage and Backup Management' feature, is it sufficient to meet the complete backup needs before the project is suspended?

A1:The “Resource Storage and Backup Management” feature of AnQiCMS backend focuses on the storage configuration of running-time resources and the backup and recovery of system data, which is very useful for data recovery and loss prevention in daily operations.For the " foolproof " backup before the complete shutdown or deletion of the project, I recommend that you still combine manual backup of the database and the entire file system.The backend functionality may focus on content data and some settings, but manual packaging of the entire installation directory can provide a more comprehensive safeguard for custom templates, server-side configurations, or certain log files.Manual backup gives you absolute control and integrity over your data.

Q2: If I only need to back up AnQiCMS article content, can I directly copy the content from the database?archivestable?

A2:In terms of technology, copying directlyarchivesThe table can indeed retrieve the article content. However, AnQiCMS' content management is highly integrated. The article may be associated withcategories（Category）、tags(Tags),images（Image resources）等多个表。Moreover, the image path in the article content usually points to/public/uploadsthe files under the directory. If only to copyarchivesAn article that is restored without also backing up associated category, tag data, and the actual image files may likely be incomplete and with missing images. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to follow the aforementioned method for the integrity of the content.