Knowledge Base

Overview

This article explains why the storage size CodeGuard reports for your backup does not match the size of your live site, and how to confirm that your content has been backed up in full. By the end, you will understand the two normal causes — compression and encryption of stored data, and excluded directories such as caches and temporary files — and you will know two ways to check your backup contents: downloading a zip file to compare against your live site, or using the Browse Backup Contents feature. A smaller reported size on its own does not mean files are missing.

Why the reported size is smaller

Everything stored on CodeGuard is compressed and then encrypted, and your storage usage is measured against the compressed size. Because a live site is stored uncompressed, the compressed backup is normally smaller. In most cases this difference alone accounts for the size gap between the live site and the copy held in CodeGuard.

Excluded directories

A backup size difference can also come from directories that CodeGuard excludes. By default, CodeGuard excludes caches and temporary files from the backup, because these are regenerated by the site and do not need to be restored. Files in those directories are not counted toward the backup size.

How to verify your content is backed up

If you want to confirm that everything you need has been backed up, use either method below.

Method A — Download and compare

1. Open your CodeGuard account and go to the backup for the website you want to check: [navigation path to the backup download option].
2. Download a zip file of the backup contents.
3. Extract the zip file and compare the folders and files against your live site.

Method B — Browse Backup Contents

1. Open your CodeGuard account and go to the backup for the website you want to check: [navigation path to the Browse Backup Contents feature].
2. Select Browse Backup Contents .
3. Browse the stored folders and files directly to confirm the items you expect are present.

If either method shows that content you expect is missing, contact the CodeGuard support team with the website name and the folder or file that is absent.