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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Please attach a ZIP file containing your Akeeba Backup log file in order for us to help you with any backup or restoration issue. If the file is over 2Mb, please upload it on your server and post a link to it.

Description of my issue:

Backup Failed

The backup operation has been halted because an error was detected.
The last error message was:
AJAX Loading Error
HTTP Status: 500 (Internal Server Error)
Internal status: error
XHR ReadyState: 4
Raw server response:

Ran the analysis - got this error:
Backup engine died without its state having been saved. The engine was stepped 1 times, saved 0 times
Please check if you have enough disk space; if your part size is more than 5Mb (or it's 0) please try part sizes of 20, 10, 5 and 2Mb.
Did this

If you still get this error, change time settings inside Akeeba Backup; try minimum execution time 1, maximum 7 and runtime bias 50. If this doesn't work try minimum 5, maximum 3 (yes, max is less than min) and bias 50.
Did this

First try using the Configuration Wizard button in the Control Panel page. Sometimes that's all it takes.
Did This

Still fails - I am using Akeeba backup on several other systems successfully.

We have not confirmed the following behavior with your host, but the symptoms and log file are exactly the same as Netsons.

This issue seems to be occurring to every user hosted with Netsons. I have now triangulated the issue to this particular host and know exactly why it happens. Your host is DELETING FILES WITHOUT ASKING YOU. More specifically, they are deleting the following files which are REQUIRED for the operation of Akeeba Backup:

• administrator/components/com_akeeba/akeeba/archiver/jpa.php
• administrator/components/com_akeeba/akeeba/archiver/zip.php
• administrator/components/com_akeeba/akeeba/plugins/archiver/jps.php

They do that WITHOUT ASKING YOU and without giving you the option to challenge their stupid decision! Please contact your host immediately and let them know that they are DELETING FILES FROM YOUR SITE. Unfortunately the stupidity of your host is beyond our control and we can't help you with that.



At this point I very strongly advise you to go to a reputable, quality host such as SiteGround, CloudAccess.net or Rochen.

In the case of Netsons we found that they would whitelist or disable the virus check on request.

I checked and the archiver folder is not present under any of these directory paths.
This is the same company that was deleting kickstart.php when I tried to move my client's site.

I develop websites for dog breeders and find some really obnoxious hosting companies.
Thank you for your reply.

In the meantime, I have no way to back-up this site to move it easily to another host either.
This really stinks.
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Please clarify - I went to my other sites using Akeeba successfully and could not find the archiver directories there either? Should they be present or are they being made on the fly during a backup?

sharon

I'm sorry, my notes may be out of date. Here is Nicholas' article on the website about this issue: https://www.akeebabackup.com/home/news/1536-new-threat-hosts-delete-files-without-asking.html. He shows a different path for the files affected.

I am not aware of any way to make Akeeba Backup work without these files. Note that some of the hosts that are known to do this will white list the files on request.

It isn't pretty, but you can FTP all the files from the website and dump the database and you've got a backup. There can be issues with restoring such a backup (sessions table, tmp and cache folders, etc.). That shouldn't be anything insurmountable.

You are exactly correct - I checked my other hosted sites and those files are present. On the directnic.com site two are missing.

I have requested that they whitelist them immediately. My client has 3 years of hosting paid at this point - I doubt if I can convice her to move.

Thank you for your assistance as I would have fought with this forever.

Sharon

You are welcome!

After a week of attempting to get directnic.com to whitelist - they tell me they have done so.
Akeeba upgraded to the newest version OK - and I just finished a back-up.

I have recommended my client move hosting providers when her contract runs-out.

The bad part is not that they are actively protecting the server by running file scans, the bad part is that they are deleting or quarantining files without telling you. They did whitelist the files, just not as fast as we would have liked.

I'm glad you got it all worked out.