Listed below are some Frequently Asked Questions for CodeGuard.
What is CodeGuard?
CodeGuard is a service that provides an automatic website / database backup solution. It monitors your website / database regularly. If any changes are detected, it will notify you about the changes and backup your website / database. It also allows you to restore your website / database to a previous version.
How does CodeGuard connect to my website?
If your website is hosted on DeployClick's Linux servers, use the SFTP option. Also, you must use the default FTP user that comes with your cPanel account. You cannot connect to CodeGuard using any other FTP user. For DeployClick's Windows servers, use the FTP option.
In case of other hosting providers, you can choose either the FTP or SFTP option, based on your service provider's settings.
Wouldn't the hosting provider's backup suffice?
Hosting companies tend to keep your backups in the same place as your primary files. In case of any eventuality, along with your primary files, your backups too will be affected. CodeGuard provides safe, offsite backup that is 100% independent from your hosting provider.
Moreover, hosting companies provide you only the latest backup. CodeGuard follows a versioning system and allows you to restore a backup of an earlier date as well.
After I add a website, how do I change what files are backed up?
After you add a website, any new files or directories that you add to your site will automatically backed up. CodeGuard will only exclude files and directories that you don't select when adding your website. If you need to change how your website is backed up, you need to delete and re-add your website. However, this should be handled with care as you will lose your backups. This option is only recommended if you have just added your website.
What types of database are supported for backup?
CodeGuard supports MySQL through the Direct MySQL or by tunneling over SSH and MS SQL database though Direct MS-SQL connection.
What database user permissions are needed to backup and restore?
The database user that you specify in CodeGuard must have the appropriate permissions granted. It is recommended that the user has the permissions for both backup and restore actions:
| Backup | Select | Show VIew | Show Database | - |
| Restore | Select | Update | Insert | Delete |
| Drop | Create | Alter | Index |
How does CodeGuard store data? Is it encrypted?
CodeGuard uses Amazon Web Service’s Simple Storage Service (S3) to house website and database backup data. All customer backup data is encrypted using an AES-256 encryption.
What is the privacy policy with regards to data captured by CodeGuard?
CodeGuard's privacy policy can be located here.
How long are the backups stored in the CodeGuard account?
By default, only 90 days of backups are stored. You can choose to retain all backups, from the Backup Retention Settings section in the Account Settings view. You can navigate to this view through the SETTINGS -> ACCOUNT menu, within your CodeGuard account.
What credentials will be required for setting up?
For adding your website, you will need the following information:
| Website | MySQL Database (Direct MySQL) | MySQL Database (Tunneling through SSH) | MS-SQL Database. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website URL | Database Name | SSH Username | Database Name |
| Hostname/IP Address | Database Hostname or IP | SSH Password | Database Hostname or IP |
| SFTP/FTP Username | MySQL Username | SSH Port (Typically 22) | MS-SQL Username |
| SFTP/FTP Password | MySQL Password | - | MS-SQL Password |
| Port Number | MySQL Port (Typically 3306) | - | MS-SQL Port (Typically 1433) |
| Root Directory | - | - |
Is my database locked during backup?
CodeGuard does not explicitly lock database rows or tables at any time during the backup process. The CodeGuard database backup process uses the industry-standard mysqldump tool to export your database content.
Can I backup multiple websites?
Yes, you can. Multiple websites can be backed up with higher CodeGuard, plans. See plan details here.
What alerts do I receive from CodeGuard?
CodeGuard monitors your site daily and notifies you any time there is a change within the source code of the website.
You receive the following notifications on your email id registered with your CodeGuard account.
- File change Alerts.
- Malware Alerts.
- Backup Notifications.
Do I have to set up cron jobs?
No. Backups are automatically generated every 24 hours (except Plan I). You will receive a ChangeAlert email that tells you what has changed.
You can choose to have backups run daily, weekly, monthly, or never. At this time CodeGuard does not support an hourly backup frequency. Select CodeGuard plans have access to our On-Demand Backup feature, though. With this feature, you can log into the CodeGuard dashboard and request a backup whenever you need one.
To edit your website's setting, click on the name of your website in CodeGuard and then click the Settings tab below your website's URL.
Under the Monitoring section, select the backup frequency the settings will be automatically saved. 