With the MainWP Buddy Extension, you can control the BackupBuddy Plugin on all your child sites directly from your MainWP Dashboard. This includes giving you the ability to create your child site backups and even set Backup schedules directly from your MainWP Dashboard.
Important Notes:
The MainWP Buddy Extension requires an active BackupBuddy subscription which can be purchased from iThemes
MainWP Buddy Extension does not support the auto restore feature for the BackupBuddy backups. Backups created by the BackupBuddy plugin can be restored only manually. If you need to restore your site from a BackuBuddy backup, please check this help document.
Backups created by the BackupBuddy plugin are not suitable for the MainWP Cloning and MainWP Auto Restore feature.
MainWP Buddy Extension requires the BackupBuddy plugin installed and activated on your child sites.
Install and Set the MainWP Buddy Extension
Installation of the MainWP Buddy Extension requires two important steps:
Installing the Extension itself on your MainWP Dashboard site
Installing the BackupBuddy plugin on Child Sites
Installing the Extension
The MainWP Buddy Extension needs to be installed only on your MainWP Dashboard site. You can install it as any other MainWP Extension.
Installing the Plugin
For the proper use of the MainWP Buddy Extension, you need to install the BackupBuddy Plugin on your child sites.
Install from MainWP Dashboard
Login in to your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Plugins > Install > Upload page
Click the Upload Now button
Upload the BackupBuddy plugin
Select your child sites
In the Installation Options box, make sure that the Activate after installation option is selected
Click the button to complete the installation
Once the installation is complete, Sync your MainWP Dashboard.
For additional help with installing WordPress plugins from the MainWP Dashboard, please review this help document.
Install directly on the Child Site
Login into your child site
Go to the WP > Plugins > Add New page
Click the Upload Plugin button
Upload the BackupBuddy plugin
Click the Install button
Click the Activate button
For additional help with installing WordPress plugins, please review this help document.
After installing the BackupBuddy plugin, it is required to Synchronize your sites, so your MainWP Dashboard becomes aware that the plugin has been installed and activated.
BackupBuddy Dashboard
From the MainWP > Extensions > MainWP Buddy > Overview page, you can monitor all of your child sites where you have the BackupBuddy plugin installed. In the sites list, you will be notified if the plugin has an update available or if the plugin is deactivated.
In case the plugin is not activated, the Activate action will appear in the corresponding site row
In case there is a new version of the plugin, the Update action will appear in the corresponding site row
Available Actions
From the MainWP > Extensions > BackupBuddy > Overview page, you can hide/unhide the BackupBuddy plugin on your child sites, and quickly access the plugin settings on a child site or the WP Admin section. Actions are provided in the actions menu.
If you know that you have the plugin installed on a child site, but the child site doesn’t appear in the list, try to re-sync your sites.
Manage BackupBuddy Settings
The MainWP Buddy Extension allows you to manage BackupBuddy plugin settings. It provides you the ability to manage the following settings:
Loggin
Techincal & Server Compatibility
Housekeeping Tools
Update BackupBuddy Settings on All Your Sites
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > MainWP Buddy > Settings page
Set your preferences
Click the Save Settings button
Update BackupBuddy Settings on a Single Site
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page
Locate the site where you want to update the settings
Under the Actions menu, click the Edit action
Go to the MainWP Buddy Page
Click the Settings tab
Set the Overwrite General Settings option to YES and click the Save Changes button
Set your preferences
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page
Manage BackupBuddy Backups
The MainWP Buddy Extension allows you to manage the BackupBuddy plugin backups directly from your MainWP Dashboard. It will allow you to:
Backup Schedules
Create Backups
Manage Backup Files
Remote Storage
The extension allows you to manage Remote Storage options, including:
Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated on the child site itself. After that initial authentication, the rest of the setup can be performed via the MainWP Dashboard.
Backup Your Child Sites With BackupBuddy
Backup Multiple Child Sites with BackupBuddy
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page
Click the Backup button
Select the Child Sites that you want to backup
Choose a backup type (or any custom-made backup profile) and click the appropriate button
Backup a Single Site with BackupBuddy
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page
Locate the site that you want to backup
in the actions menu, click the Edit action
Go to the Buddy Page
Click the Backup button
Set the Overwrite General Settings option to YES and click the Save Changes button
Choose if you want a Database or a Complete Backup (or any custom-made backup profile) and click the appropriate button
Create Backup Schedule
Create a Backup Schedule on Multiple Sites
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page
Click the Schedules button
Locate the Add New Schedule section
Add a Schedule name (for your use only)
Select a Backup profile (database, complete backup, or any custom-made profile)
Select Backup interval (time period between backups)
Set the Date and Time of the next (first) run
Optionally, set a Remote destination
Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated or configured initially on the child site itself.Select if you want to delete a local backup after successful upload to a remote destination
Enable the Schedule
Select the Child Sites that you want to backup
Click the Add New Schedule button
Create a Backup Schedule on a single Site
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page
Locate the site that you want to backup
In the actions menu, click the Edit action
Go to the MainWP Buddy Page
Click the Schedules button
Set the Overwrite General Settings option to YES and click the Save Changes button
Locate the Add New Schedule options box
Add a Schedule name (for your use only)
Select a Backup profile (database, complete backup, or any custom-made profile)
Select Backup interval (time period between backups)
Set the Date and Time of the next (first) run
Optionally, set a Remote destination
Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated or configured initially on the child site itself.Select if you want to delete a local backup after successful upload to a remote destination
Enable the Schedule
Click the Add New Schedule button
Note: Due to security reasons imposed by the providers of remote storage options, some of them may need to be authenticated on the child site itself. After that initial authentication, the rest of the setup can be performed via the MainWP Dashboard.
Edit BackupBuddy Schedules
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page
Click the Schedules button
Locate the schedule that you want to edit
Click the Edit Schedule action
Edit Schedule Options box will be loaded with your settings.
Update your settings
Update your Child Sites selection
Click the Save Schedule button
When editing a schedule created for a Single Site, Site selection is not available, since it’s an individual site schedule.
When editing a global schedule, you can Update sites selection. This means the following:
If you unselect a child site, the schedule will be deleted from it
If you select a new site, the schedule will be added to the site
Run BackupBuddy Schedules
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Extensions > Buddy page
Click the Schedules button
Locate the schedule that you want to edit
Click the Edit Schedule action
Manage BackupBuddy Backup Files
MainWP Buddy extension allows you to manage your backup files directly from your MainWP Dashboard. It gives you the ability to:
Download your backup files
Send Backup files to remote locations
Browse & Restore files
Download Backup Files
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page
Locate the site that you want to backup
In the actions menu, click the Edit action
Go to the MainWP Buddy Page
Click the Backup button
Locate the backup that you want to download
Click the Download action
Send files
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page
Locate the site that you want to backup
in the actions menu, click the Edit action
Go to the Buddy Page
Click the Backup button
Locate the backup that you want to send
Click the Send action
Remote locations options will appear, set the wanted location and upload will start
Browse & Restore Files
Login into your MainWP Dashboard
Go to the MainWP > Sites > Manage page
Locate the site that you want to backup
In the actions menu, click the Edit action
Go to the Buddy Page
Click the Backup button
Locate the backup that you want to browse or restore
Click the Browse & Restore files action
A list of files will appear
Select files that you want to restore and push the Restore button.