STSADM Export/Import and Backup/Restore

Difference between SPD backup and backup using STSADM backup command

1) The Backup taken using SharePoint Designer (site > administration menu > back-up website) is equivalent to STSADM – o export. It creates a .CMP file as opposed to the STSADM –o backup command.

2) The export (backup taken using SPD) can be restored using SPD (‘site > administration menu > restore website) or using STSADM –o restore command (as opposed to STSADM – o backup).

3) If the export (backup through SPD) contains a column conflict, it shall not be able to perform successful restore using SPD> In that case do STSADM –o restore.

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Backup/Restore can work either on the farm level or the site collection level. One cannot use this operation to backup/restore a subsite. For this we use Export/Import operation. It can work for site collections (top level site) as well as subsites.

Backup/Restore overwrites the entire site collection/farm. Hence old contents are removed.

Export/Import merges the contents during import.

Lessons learned while using the STSADM export and import commands:

1. Alerts will not follow the site's lists and documents during the export process.

2. Email enabled lists can be an issue when importing if the destination server is not properly configured for incoming email.

3. Any task or issues list imported that emails a user when they are assigned a task will no longer send emails.  You need to disable and then re-enable the functionality in the lists settings.

 

<<<<source: http://mphacker.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8040CC624DDC5404!252.entry>>>>

BACKUP/RESTORE COMMANDS

For site collection backup

stsadm -o backup -url <URL name> -filename <file name> [-overwrite]

url -----A valid URL, such as http://server_name ------ URL of the site collection that you want to back up

filename ------ A valid file name for the site collection restore file, such as "Siteres.bak" ------- Name of the restore file

NOTE:: REMOVE '[' AND ']' WHILE SPECIFYING OPTIONAL PARAMETERS :)

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For site collection restore

stsadm -o restore -url <URL name> -filename <file name> [-hostheaderwebapplicationurl] <Web application URL> [-overwrite]

url -----A valid URL, such as http://server_name ------ URL of the site collection where you want to restore (should already exist)

filename ------ A valid file name for the site collection restore file, such as "Siteres.bak" ------- Name of the restore file (complete path of file created during backup)

 

EXPORT/IMPORT COMMANDS

stsadm -o export  -url <URL name> -filename <export file name>

   [-overwrite]

   [-includeusersecurity]

   [-haltonwarning]

   [-haltonfatalerror]

   [-nologfile]

   [-versions] <1-4>

   [-cabsize] <integer value>

   [-nofilecompression]

   [-quiet]

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stsadm -o import

   -url <URL name> -filename <import file name>

   [-includeusersecurity]

   [-haltonwarning]

   [-haltonfatalerror]

   [-nologfile]

   [-updateversions] <1-3>

   [-nofilecompression]

   [-quiet]