CodeGuard: Getting Started | Bluehost Support
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CodeGuard: Getting Started

This article explains how to get started using CodeGuard to backup and restore your website file and database data.



Assigning a Website to your CodeGuard account

To begin, you will need to access the Bluehost control panel.

Note: Legacy accounts will feature a horizontal navigation bar at the top of the screen, while Bluerock account users will see a vertical navigation menu on the left-hand side of the screen. If you are still unsure what interface your account uses, please see Bluerock vs. Legacy to determine which step to follow.

Legacy:

  1. Click the Addons at the top of the page.
  2. Locate Bluehost CodeGuard, and click on the Learn More button.
  3. Click the Dashboard button to visit the CodeGuard dashboard.
  4. Click the View Dashboard link to visit the CodeGuard dashboard. 
    User-added image

Bluerock: 

  1. Click on the Marketplace tab from the side navigation tab to the left.
  2. Choose Addons from the sub-menu.
  3. Locate Bluehost CodeGuard, and click the icon.
  4. Click the Dashboard button to visit the CodeGuard dashboard. 
    User-added image
  5. You will be required to add your website FTP details if you log in to the CodeGuard dashboard for the first time. If you have the FTP details, proceed to step 4 directly. If the FTP details are not available, you can fetch them for an existing FTP user. This process is explained below for a couple of commonly used hosting control panels:
    • cPanel:

      1. In the cPanel control panel, click the FTP Accounts link under the Files section.
      2. Under the FTP Accounts section, click the Change Password link for an existing FTP user.
      3. Modify the password for the FTP user.
      4. In the cPanel control panel, look out for the IP address under the Stats section.
    • Plesk:

      1. In the Plesk control panel, click the FTP Access link.
      2. Under the FTP accounts section, click the FTP user link for an existing FTP user.
      3. Modify the password for the FTP user.
        Here, note down the IP address of the server listed in the IP Addresses field.
  6. Provide your website's FTP details.
    CodeGuard: Add Website
  7. Click the Test Website Connection button to check server connectivity. On a successful connection, you will see the screen shown below. Select the root directory of your website and click on the Select Root Directory button to proceed.
    CodeGuard: Select Root Directory 
  8. Select the files you want to backup and click on the Begin First Backup button.
    CodeGuard: Begin Backup
  9. Once the backup process starts, you can view its progress. You will see the screen displayed below once the backup process is completed.
    CodeGuard: Backup Tracker

Adding a Database to your CodeGuard account

MySQL

  1. Visit the CodeGuard dashboard, as explained above, in the process of adding a website. Click on the Databases tab.
    CodeGuard: Add Database
  2. Click the Add Database button.
  3. During the initial addition of a database to CodeGuard, you can test the server connectivity by providing the database hostname or the IP address. You can locate the IP address of the database server, as mentioned below:
    • cPanel: In the cPanel control panel, look out for the IP address under the Stats section.

    • Plesk: In the Plesk control panel, click on the Databases link. 

      In the next screen, locate the IP address under the Database server column.

  4. Click on the Test Connection button.
    CodeGuard: Test Connection

    Note: Before you proceed, for direct MySQL connection, ensure that the IP addresses provided by CodeGuard are whitelisted in your hosting control panel.

  5. You will be required to add your database details. If you have them, proceed to step 6 directly. If the database details are not available, you can fetch them for an existing database.

    This process is explained below for a couple of commonly used hosting control panels:

    • cPanel:
      1. In the cPanel control panel, click the MySQL Databases link under the Databases section.
      2. Under the Current Users section, click the database user link for an existing user.
      3. Modify the password for the database user.
    • Plesk:
      1. In the Plesk control panel, click the Databases link.
      2. Here, you can view a list of existing databases. Click the Users tab.
      3. You can now view a list of existing database users. Click on the user link.
      4. Modify the password for the database user.
  6. On a successful connection, you will see the screen shown below. Enter your database details.
    CodeGuard: Enter Database Details

    Note: If SSH has been enabled for your hosting account, you can connect to the database over SSH. Here, choose the Tunnel over the SSH option.

    CodeGuard: SSH
  7. Select the database to be added and click on the Add Databases button. CodeGuard will then start an initial backup process.
    CodeGuard: Select Database
  8. Once the backup process starts, you can view its progress. You will see the screen displayed below once the backup process is completed.
    CodeGuard: Backup Tracker

MS-SQL

You can also add an MS-SQL database to CodeGuard, by following the steps mentioned below.

  1. If you have not yet configured a database for your website, click Databases on the navigation bar and then click Add Database.
    CodeGuard: Add Database
  2. From your Plesk panel, note the database hostname or IP address.
  3. Enter the database hostname or server IP address. Click Test Connection.
  4. CodeGuard will check for firewall access. If the connection is successful, it will be highlighted in green as shown. Click Next Step.
    CodeGuard: Check Firewalls
  5. On the Whitelist IP Addresses page, click Next Step.
  6. Enter the database username and password for the database you want to connect with CodeGuard. Click Next Step to proceed.

    Note the database name from the Plesk Panel.

  7. Enter the database name which you want to add to CodeGuard and click Add Database.
    CodeGuard: Select Database
  8. You will see a success screen once the database is successfully added.

    Note: If you get an error as shown, please wait about 5 minutes and then click RETRY ACTIVATION. The database should be added, and the backup process should start.

    CodeGuard: Retry Activation

This completes the process of adding a website and a database to your CodeGuard account. CodeGuard will regularly check your website and database and take a backup if any changes are detected.

View Backups Taken by CodeGuard 

  1.  In the CodeGuard dashboard, click on the website or the database link under My Sites.
    CodeGuard: My Sites Dashboard
  2. In the website/database specific view that follows, click on the View/View All button to view the backup history interface:
    CodeGuard: Backup History
  3. Click on the View Details link corresponding to any backup to view the backup details:
    CodeGuard: Manage Backups
  4. If required, you can delete a website or database through the Delete option under the ACTION menu, corresponding to the website or database.
    CodeGuard: Delete Site

Restore Data from a Backup

  1. In the CodeGuard dashboard, click on the Restore tab to bring up the Restore interface:
    CodeGuard: Backup Options
  2. Click on the Restore Options button to view the restore options.
    CodeGuard: Restore Options
  3. Here, you may choose one of the following restore options:
    • Automatic Restore: CodeGuard will automatically restore your website by replacing all of your current content with content from a backup
    • Download Zip: Perform a manual restore yourself by requesting a zip file of a backup & manually replacing files on your site
    • Selective Restore (applicable only for website restore): Specify a file to be restored, and CodeGuard will restore that file from a backup
  4. Once the backup process starts, you can view its progress. You will see the screen displayed below once the backup process is completed.

Backup Issues

  1. In the CodeGuard dashboard, click on the Issues tab to bring up the Backup Issues interface.
  2. Click on the issue link to view the details:
    CodeGuard: Backup Issues

If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us via Chat or Phone:

  • Chat Support - While on our website, you should see a CHAT bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Click anywhere on the bubble to begin a chat session.
  • Phone Support -
    • US: 888-401-4678
    • International: +1 801-765-9400

You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.