Backups silently fail

Hey there –

Can you run through some basic troubleshooting for me and report the outcome?

• can you run a database-only backup manually?
• what happens when you try a files-only backup? (not complete)
• try to exclude your /wp-content/uploads folder, then run a manual backup. Does this work? If so, we know the size of your backup is probably hanging up your server.
• If you can, try disabling all other plugins, and switch to a default theme if possible as plugin conflicts can occur. Does that help?
• Can you check with your host about enabling the MySQLDump Command and/or the Unix Zip Command or whether those functions are blocked?

Let me know what you find and we’ll troubleshoot from there, okay? ??
Kat

• The daily database-only backup spins for 2-3 seconds, then does not list any backups. The backup directory has no data files in it.
• Files-only backup spins for 3 seconds, then does not list any backups. The backup directory has no data files in it.
• Excluding uploads also behaves the same. I notice that in the Excludes page, the size column of all directories shows the spinner instead of the size. Apache running as www-data.www-data and backup dir has w permission.
• No plugin conflicts. Running default theme.

I noticed that Apache2 at startup was whining about sendmail being missing. Installed sendmail.
Backups began working. Apparently this plugin has a dependency upon email, even if no email address is listed — and if an email address is listed but email can no be sent the plugin does not complain.
Plugin seems to need to report more errors.

That is quite the find – I’m sorry for coming across this message a little late. Thank you for the information though!
Kat