Three methods for backing up a Sharepoint site

There are three different feature types that can be used to package SharePoint sites:

• In SharePoint designer, you can back up the site
• In SharePoint designer, you can create a web package.
• In a browser, you can save a site as a site template.

The usage depends on what features you want to complete.

Web package (. fwp file)

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You can use this feature when you want to share or reuse web pages, sites, or list structures. with Web packages, You can package the entire site or select the desired page, list, or document library. web package is a great way to copy site structures, but they do not include list data, child site, or security and permission settings. also, a Web package can contain custom links. after creating a package, you can import and deploy this file to any number of Web sites. for more information, see export or import a web package.

Backup and Restore (. CMP file)

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You can use this feature when you want to back up the entire site or sub-site, or when you want to move the entire site or sub-site to another server or location. different from Web package, content migration package includes list data, and you cannot select to include only specific site elements. note that you will lose some customization or configuration in this process. for example, the backup file does not contain workflow, alerts, and the properties stored horizontally in the site set. the backup file does not include the recycle bin status and objects in it. to Use Backup and Restore, you must have administrator permissions on the site.

Site template (. STP file)

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If you want to create multiple websites with the same basic content and site structure, you should use this feature. for example, you may want all the sub-sites created on a site to have the same site structure, look and feel, or even content. you can save the website as a site template and add it to the site template gallery. In this way, everyone can use this site as a template. unlike web packages, a website template can contain list data. you must have the Administrator permission for the site you want to create the site template, and write permission for the site template Gallery.

Steps for backing up a site

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OnFileMenu, clickOpen site.

InOpen siteDialog box, browse to and click the Web site that you want to back up, and then clickOpen.

OnSiteMenu, pointAdministration, And then clickBackup web site.

InBackup web siteDialog box, to include all subsites of the current web site in the backup, selectInclude subsites in archiveCheck box.

If the current web site is low on available storage space, clickAdvanced, Enter a new location, and then clickOK.

Backing up a Web site requires a location to store temporary backup files. by default, Office Sharepoint designer 2007 uses the current web site. you can use another site on the same server or a location on another server on the same network-for example,\\Server Name\Share Name.

InBackup web siteDialog box, clickOK.

InFile SaveDialog box, select the location where you want to store the. CMP file.

InFile NameBox, type the name for the file, and then clickSave.

If the site that you are backing up or restoring is large, the process can take quite a while.

Restore the site

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Step 1: Create a New empty web site as a destination

1. OnFileMenu, clickNew.
2. InNewDialog box, clickWeb SiteTab, clickGeneral, And then clickEmpty web site.
3. InSpecify the location of the new web siteBox, enter the location where you want to restore the backup site.

   You can restore the site to a different server, and you can restore it as either a new top-level site or a subsite under an existing top-level site.

4. ClickOK.

TIPS: You can check whether there are errors during the backup process. log File .. log files are stored in the temp folder of your user account (% Temp % ). if a log file already exists, such as the one left by Backup and Restore, the new log file will be created with different names, such as smigrate_1.log and smigrate_2.log. search for the following keywords in these files:

• Cannot
• Cocould not
• Failure
• Server Error
• Timed out
• Unable
• The server sent a response.

 

Step 2: Restore the backup file to the destination

2. With the destination site open, onSiteMenu, pointAdministration, And then clickRestore web site.
4. InFile OpenDialog box, browse to and click the. CMP file that you want to restore, and then clickOpen.
5. If the current web site is low on available storage space, click Advanced , And then do any of the following:
   • to store the archive files in another temporary location, enter a new location in the temporary location for archive files box.

     backing up a Web site requires a location to store temporary backup files. by default, Office Sharepoint designer 2007 uses the current web site. you can use another site on the same server or a location on another server on the same network-for example, \ server name \ share name .

   • to store. log File in another location, enter a new location in the location for import log file box.

     you might need to choose another location for. log File if the server cannot write to the default location. by default, Office Sharepoint designer 2007 creates an import. log file in the current web site. you can check this file to determine if there were errors during the restore process.

7. InRestore web siteDialog box, clickOKTo confirm that you want to restore the. CMP file to the current empty web site.

   If the site that you are backing up or restoring is large, the process can take quite a while.

Source:

Back up, restore, or move a Sharepoint site

Http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointdesigner/HA100699391033.aspx