Support

Trying to restore my JPA file onto a new install of Joomla. Have tried using both Akeeba plugin and Kickstart. Uncompressing works, but during install I receive error stating unable to communicate with SQL server.

Is there anyway to check if my JPA file is corrupted? It is a 4GB file, so that's why I've not attached it.

You shouldn't let your part size get over 2Gb, some servers can't handle that. Since your archive extracted without complaint, I don't think that is the problem.

You're getting the error when you try to do the database restore, let's concentrate on that. First, Akeeba Backup can't create the database for you, it doesn't have enough rights on your MySQL server. You need to create the database, user and assign rights manually before you do the restore.

Normally the database address is "localhost" but some hosts require an actual URL for the MySQL server. I haven't seen one of those in a long while, but there are a few. Your host's support or FAQ would give you that information.

You don't need to have a Joomla! installation to restore your site. The site is included in your backup archive. In the case where you're going to a new server, just extract it with Kickstart and go your merry way. You can install Joomla!, Akeeba Backup, import your archive and do it from Manage Backups, but that's the hard way. The only way that would be a problem is if you have a bare Joomla! 3.8 install and you're trying to restore a Joomla! 3.6 over top of it. You can only overwrite within a major release, not between them.

Thank you soooo much! The important point, which I never realized, is that Akeeba Backup can't create the database. I will mark this closed.

You're welcome!