Migrating database works, all else fails

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

In order to test changes to a live website I have just sent it from the live site with the UpdraftPlus migrate/clone option. However, this fails.

First I see a screen (1) showing that Verifying and Database have succeeded (with a green checkmark), but the rest of the site (Plugins, Themes, Uploads, Others and Cleaning) failed (with a red cross).

Following the link to download the log file does not work, I get an error message saying that there has been a critical error.

Renaming the database seems to have gone well. I can see the frontend of the migrated website on my test server, and the backend as well, but all of the media in the library and all of the plugins including UpdraftPlus are missing. This was to be expected seeing the failure to restore them.

I uploaded the UpdraftPlus plugin from a local copy on my laptop and saw a message inviting me to continue restoration. After clicking that, I got the error message critical error. again.

If I try to restore the missing files directly from UpdraftPlus, I also get an error message saying Restore Failed.

So, why does restoring the backups from Plugins, Themes, Uploads, Others fail in the first place? And is there something I can do about it?

Pierre

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

This reply has been marked as moderator-only.

[Paul BevanKeymaster]

Hello Pierre,

Thank you for your message. I am sorry to hear that you have been having problems with restoring your site. In order to establish the cause of the failed restoration it would be helpful to look at the log file. You should be able to find this in the wp-content / updraft directory on your server. I would recommend using https://pastebin.com to share.

Best,

Paul

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

0000.003 () Opened log file at time: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:48:06 +0000 on https://ptwebdev.eu/ais
0000.003 () UpdraftPlus WordPress backup plugin (https://updraftplus.com): 2.23.10.1 WP: 6.3.1 PHP: 8.2.10 (cgi-fcgi, Linux ptwebdev.eu 5.15.0-75-generic #82+onecomnfs.20230619.1335 SMP Mon Jun 19 13:38:47 UTC 2023 x86_64) MySQL: 10.6.15-MariaDB-1:10.6.15+maria~ubu2204 (max packet size=1073741824) WPLANG: en_US Server: Apache safe_mode: 0 max_execution_time: 900 memory_limit: 2147483648 (used: 30.2M | 32.2M) multisite: N openssl: OpenSSL 1.1.1f 31 Mar 2020 mcrypt: N LANG: ZipArchive::addFile: Y
0000.003 () Free space on disk containing Updraft’s temporary directory: 96179517.1 MB
0000.056 () Restore setup, now closing connection and starting restore over AJAX.
0000.003 () Opened log file at time: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 12:48:07 +0000 on https://ptwebdev.eu/ais
0000.004 () UpdraftPlus WordPress backup plugin (https://updraftplus.com): 2.23.10.1 WP: 6.3.1 PHP: 8.2.10 (cgi-fcgi, Linux ptwebdev.eu 5.15.0-75-generic #82+onecomnfs.20230619.1335 SMP Mon Jun 19 13:38:47 UTC 2023 x86_64) MySQL: 10.6.15-MariaDB-1:10.6.15+maria~ubu2204 (max packet size=1073741824) WPLANG: en_US Server: Apache safe_mode: 0 max_execution_time: 900 memory_limit: 2147483648 (used: 28.4M | 30.2M) multisite: N openssl: OpenSSL 1.1.1f 31 Mar 2020 mcrypt: N LANG: ZipArchive::addFile: Y
0000.004 () Free space on disk containing Updraft’s temporary directory: 96179517.1 MB
0000.067 () Ensuring WP_Filesystem is setup for a restore
0000.071 () WP_Filesystem is setup and ready for a restore
0000.077 () Restore job started. Entities to restore: plugins, themes, uploads, others. Restore options: {“updraft_encryptionphrase”:””,”updraft_restorer_wpcore_includewpconfig”:false,”updraft_incremental_restore_point”:-1}
0000.086 () Error message: Existing unremoved folders from a previous restore exist (please use the “Delete old folders” button to delete them before trying again): /customers/6/f/b/ptwebdev.eu/httpd.www/ais/wp-content/updraft/plugins-old
0000.091 () Restore failed…
0000.091 () Error message: Existing unremoved folders from a previous restore exist (please use the “Delete old folders” button to delete them before trying again): /customers/6/f/b/ptwebdev.eu/httpd.www/ais/wp-content/updraft/plugins-old
0000.091 () Restore failed

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

Sorry, this is the wrong log. Somehow Pastebin seems to have a mind of its own.

The log file of the original (failed) restore is here: https://pastebin.com/hVKW3iU6

[Paul BevanKeymaster]

Hi Pierre,

Thank you for providing the log file. It looks like there is an issue with the maximum execution time directive and this is causing a timeout. I would suggest trying to restore the archives one by one – for instance, plugins, then themes and finally uploads. I would also suggest contacting your host and asking them to increase the maximum execution time to the highest value allowable if you continue to experience problems and reference the log file warning “Cannot set max execution time limit due to system policy”.

Best,

Paul

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

Hi Paul,

Thanks, I will try that. I have used Updraftplus to migrate the same site in the past and was pleased with it. However my current provider, One.com advises me to use their own migrating tool. The time limits for all of their plans are fixed at 300s and can not be changed. What’s more, UpdraftPlus WordPress Backup Plugin is in their Discouraged plugins list and they do not recommend using it. See: https://help.one.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005586029-Discouraged-WordPress-plugins.

Pierre

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

What a joke, the One.com migration tool does not work, so I am back to UpdraftPlus.

Because of the timeouts, I have now copied the root, wp-content, wp-admin and wp-upload directories via ftp to the new server and used UpdraftPlus to migrate the database.

That works up to a point. I can not access Appearance > Menus or Appearance > Customize on the Dashboard, both still lead to a Critical Error. WordPress says I should check an error report sent to me by mail, but nothing arrives in my mailbox.

[Pierre GielenParticipant]

Okay, the problem was a plugin that misbehaved (Expiring Posts), even if it had nothing to do with the Menus or Customizer. After deactivating it, everything works like it should and my faith in UpdraftPlus has been restored. Thank you for your support!

Pierre

[Paul BevanKeymaster]

Hi Pierre,

thank you for the update and I am glad everything is now working.

Best,

Paul

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