Forum backup

[Ioannis]

Is there a way to have the forum locally in case it stops to exist in the future for any reason?

There are so much good info here that would be a pity to loose.

Ioannis

[mark_s]

I would like to do the same for a few forums I follow.

Httrack website copier looks like it might work

Found this video on Httrack and learned how spoof hacks are done.

[Ioannis]

I tried a year ago with no success. I guess it is because the forum needs credentials to access it?

Will have a look again on this video, maybe I missed something.

Have you had any success?
Ioannis

[mark_s]

I don't know any thing about websites or mirroring software as a preface. I downloaded winHTTrack, it directs you to name a project folder. Then I copied and pasted the address from here and started. There may be some advanced options, but did not use any. It seems very slow but may be that is the nature of mirroring.

Six hours later and over 5gbs, I cancelled the download. With a quick check I was able to view threads as far back as 2004. Then I tried a live search and it took me online to the real site. I need to try this on a offline pc. But the bottom line is you could still access all the information.

It would be nice if you could target certain parts like PBP3 and not others. For instance the off-topic section has +8000 posts.

[Ioannis]

I guess here comes the advanced options in play. To select what you want and what not.

But I am skeptical on how this will work offline.

Ioannis

[lester]

HTTRACK will fail to produce a viable copy of the forum.

Many have tried and failed to do it for many differnet forums.

We run PHP and MYSQL, the system is dynamic, HTTRack has great difficulty following the internal links and structure, and producing local links seesm an impossibe task

[lester]

I would be interested to better understand why there is a need to run or keep a local copy of the forum. The system is backed up and the recovery process works well. Its been tested twice in the last three months, once in anger !

Having said that, I guess I might drop dead :-(……is that the thinking ??

Technology moves on, this system is old. As I have said before, it really needs to migrate to a newer platform. So if any great amount of concern exists and there are funds to support it....
A cloud based solution with a hierarchy of administrators might be a better way to go, than simply allowing a few admins to have access to duplicates of this system.

[lester]

It is possible to run a copy of the forum locally, however there are a couple of issues;

1) Licensing, I cannot give the licensed installation to just anyone. I can let an assistant admin, or a Crownhill employee or a consultant working for Crownhill, have access. But I cannot simply bundle it up and distribute it freely.
2) There is a GDPR issue, because of the personal data held within the system, so once again I would be limited to an assistant admin, or a Crownhill employee or a consultant working for Crownhill.

For the reasons above, detailed discussion on this topic, would need to progress in the private ADMIN area of this forum.

[lester]

As I mentioned, I’m happy to discuss this in detail in the ADMIN section. of direct discussion via email or telephone.

I can think of a couple of solutions to the creation of a viable duplicate of this system:

1) a live user level (no admin) READ ONLY snapshot, that would run via a live boot from USB memory or USB hard drive.

2) a real duplicate, Hypervisor , running VM’s duplicating the live system, with or without live updates to sync the two. Along with DT.PICBASIC.CO.UK

I am happy to discuss either solution with admins. But I don’t see a way forward for a "free for all give-away" of the existing platform because of licensing and GDPR issues.

[Ioannis]

Replied to the ADMIN section.

Ioannis