How to work with data.fs file in Windows
Data.fs is kind of a database file, containing the entire Zope site. All the content of any Plone site is stored in this data.fs file, that is normally located in Var directory. As it contains information about the entire site, it is enough to copy this file from one instance to another to move the instance, for example, from a local laptop to a Quintagroup hosted server.
This becomes possible in case Plone and Zope versions that you use are the same. For moving a website, copy data.fs file and Products folder. That is to ensure that all the products and customizations that have been made on a website to be preserved. Keep in mind that Zope and Plone versions are supposed to be the same on both hosts, so that the process of moving the instance is successful.
In Windows this task can be carried out with the help of WinSCP program.
To start work with WinSCP, you need to get SSH password. Log in to Quintagroup Plone hosting account this way:
- Go to Quintagroup Control Panel and select the folder Server:
- Copy your personal SSH information:
- Now that you have the necessary password, start your work with WinSCP. Go to a menubar, select Session and then New Session item from drop-down menu items:
- In a WinSCP Login window, enter the Host name, Username, and password, then click on the Save button (username and password are taken from personal SSH information):
- Save your session by clicking OK button:
- Now you have your new session listed in the text field of stored sessions and can finally login by clicking on the Login button:
- After you have been connected, WinSCP right column will display the content of your instance. Select the folder data1:
- Open the folder Var:
- There will be data.fs file, the one we need, among a list of files:
- Copy this file to the corresponding var folder at the server you move your instance to.