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Akeeba Backup for Joomla!

#19147 SSH2 Support

Posted in ‘Akeeba Backup for Joomla! 4 & 5’
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Environment Information

Joomla! version
n/a
PHP version
n/a
Akeeba Backup version
n/a

Latest post by nicholas on Tuesday, 11 February 2014 15:39 CST

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Description of my issue:
I have confirmed that I have SSH2 enabled on my remote server, vis ssh command php -i

it reads:
SSH2 support => enabled
extension version => 0.12
libssh2 version => 1.4.2
banner => SSH-2.0-libssh2_1.4.2

When I test the connection in the backend of Joomla i get this message:
SFTP Connection Test
Could not connect to the remote SFTP server.
Your web server does not have the SSH2 PHP module, therefore can not connect to SFTP servers.

I can connect via SFTP using Fetch with the same credentials, so I'm not sure what the issue is.

Thank you,
John

EDIT: I just updated to the latest version 3.10.0 and the issue is still there.

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I'm guessing that both servers need to utilize the SSH2 PHP module in order for this to work. I've put in a request with Cloudacess, but I'm gonna guess that they are not going to enable a module that is still in beta and hasn't been updated since 10/15/2012

Is there a work around that can be used?

Thank you

nicholas
Akeeba Staff
Manager
You will need the following setup:

An SSH server must be installed on the remote server, i.e. where the backup archives will be sent. Reading your ticket I understand this is already the case.

The SSH2 PHP module must be installed and activated on the source server, i.e. where the site to be backed up currently lives. This is what you are missing. The SSH2 PHP module is actually very stable and can be activated safely. Please ask your host to do that.

Note: even though there are pure PHP alternatives to the SSH2 PHP module they are abysmally slow and completely unfit for trnasfering large files such as backup archives. If we'd choose to use that you'd have to split your archives to 1Mb parts (meaning that each backup would be dozens to thousands of files) and the transfer would take MUCH longer (typically: hours) making it completely unpractical. If your host cannot enable the SSH2 PHP module I'd recommend using FTPS (FTP over SSL) which is a secure file transfer method. I would never recommend using plain FTP as the credentials (username & password) are transferred unencrypted, a patently bad idea for file transfers over the open Internet – that's why I would only recommend plain, unencrypted FTP only for transfers within the same host, as they are likely to be routed solely through their network, drastically reducing the chances of a man in the middle attack.

Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos

Lead Developer and Director

🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!

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