Single-Call Backup
Faster; But needs a server with a longer timeout.
The entire backup process will take place in a single call. If you choose to upload the files you are about to backup to a cloud repository; the upload process will take place on the same single call.
The Pros: The backup will be quicker than the multi-call method.
The Cons: Your server might take a longer time to complete the backups depending on the size of your backups and your server resources. This might result in timeout-related issues and break communications which will inturn result in a failed backup.
Cron Requirement: You have to set a cron job for every 20 minutes for the single-call method. You will also have to ensure that your server has a more prolonged timeout because larger files take a longer time to upload.
Multi-Call Backup
Slower; But very reliable on low-end servers.
The backup process happens across multiple calls. The multi-call backup method will solve memory, and timeout-related issues since each call last for just 30 sec and will consume very less memory.
When should you use Multi-call Backups?
The multi-call backup method can be used when you face timeout errors or HTTP errors like 500, 503 and other network errors for improved reliability. We strongly recommend that you use the multi-call backup method for the specific sites that are susceptible to the errors mentioned above. You can use single-call method for the sites that are free from those errors since that is faster.
Cron Requirement:
To use the multi-call method for a scheduled backup, set a cron job for every 5 minutes on your server. If you are not able to set the cron job for every 5 minutes on your server, please use easycron.com service, where you have to buy the Starter Plan. See how to set up EasyCron.
Fastest and the most reliable backup method on all kind of servers.
The Phoenix method follows a multi-tiered backup approach. When you backup your site using this method, InfiniteWP will first check for exec() on your WP server and use the function to backup your site.
If exec() is not available it will make use of PHP ZipArchive() function. As the last fall back option, PclZip would be used. This multi-tiered approach would ensure that the backups are completed with almost 100% reliability.
When should you use Phoenix Backups?
We strongly recommend you to select Phoenix method to backup all your WordPress sites.
This method would be faster and reliable than the other two methods.
How are Backups done with Phoenix?
Phoenix will not backup the core WordPress files. It only backs up the Themes, plugins, uploads and all other files together as four separate zip archives. At the time of restore/clone, InfiniteWP will download the WordPress core files from the WordPress repository based on the WP version saved in the wp-config file.
Cron Requirement:
To use the Phoenix method for a scheduled backup, set a cron job for every 5 minutes on your server which is used to initiate the schedule. Once the schedule is commenced, phoenix method uses wp_cron() to resume backups that have been paused for some reason. So an admin visit will also trigger stalled backups, and the success rate will be much higher because it is not dependent on a single point of initiation in the admin panel.
Note: You can also use Easycron if setting up a cron job is too complicated for you.