We can need backup/restore our SharePoint for security reasons, or sometimes when we deploy some contents from one server to other one. In SharePoint 2007 we have several choices to save and restore the content.
On the Central Administration site we can start backup or restore manually: the Operations page give us possibilities to save our farm, site collection or SSP.
We have more freedom if we choose the stsadm command-line tool. Additionally, running these commands as a script, moreover: scheduled script, we have an automated, scheduled way to restore our system as well.
Let's see two very simple examples:
- Farm backup: stsadm -o backup -directory \serverackupdir -backupmethod <full/differential>
- Site collection backup: stsadm -o backup -url <URL name> -filename <file name> [-overwrite]
Finally, we have a third option as well, which is not too known. This tool is exactly the SharePoint Designer! When we open a site, we can find a "Backup Web Site" option under the Site / Administration menu. The SPD generate a .cmp (Content Management Pacgage) file for us, which can contain or not the subsites as well.
The restore requires a small trick in this case. We have to crate a new site from Blank site template. After it, we can restore the content of our .cmp file to this new, empty site. Of course, we have to pay attention for some issues, for example the installed features on the site.
aghy