How to Back Up Your Databases on Windows Plesk and Linux cPanel Hosting

This guide explains how to create your own personal backup copies of MS Access, Microsoft SQL Server, and MySQL databases across both Windows (Plesk) and Linux (cPanel) hosting platforms.

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MS Access (Windows Hosting Only)

Access databases are stored in your DB folder on the server.

1. Open your FTP client (FileZilla, WinSCP, etc).
2. Connect to: ftp.fast2host.com using your FTP login details.
3. Navigate to the DB folder.
4. Download the entire folder to your computer.

If you have moved your Access database to another folder, download the updated location instead.

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Microsoft SQL Server (Windows Plesk, SQL Server 2019/2022)

Plesk provides built-in backup tools for all SQL Server databases.

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to Databases.
3. Select your SQL Server database.
4. Click Export Dump to download a full backup.

You can also restore backups using the Import Dump option.

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MySQL on Windows (Plesk)

You can back up MySQL databases using phpMyAdmin or external tools.

Option A - phpMyAdmin

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to Databases.
3. Click phpMyAdmin.
4. Select your database.
5. Click Export and choose Quick or Custom.
6. Click Go to download the backup.

Option B - HeidiSQL (recommended)

HeidiSQL is a powerful, free MySQL client: www.heidisql.com

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MySQL on Linux (cPanel)

Option A - phpMyAdmin

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Click phpMyAdmin.
3. Select your database.
4. Click Export.
5. Click Go to download your backup file.

Option B - cPanel Backup Wizard

1. In cPanel, open Backup or Backup Wizard.
2. Select Download a MySQL Database Backup.
3. Click your database name to download.

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Important Note About Server Backups

All databases on Fast2Host are backed up every night.

If you need a copy of our nightly backup for your database, open a support ticket and we can provide it.