[Split] noob question on forum backup

[Mulsiphix]

How I do it can be read HERE

I found this topic and your response HiFiKabin, and was really excited. I read the guide and grabbed MySQLDumper. Unfortunately, it doesn't start the install process. I looked into it and the project has been dead for three or so years. I'm curious, are you still using this software for automated backup? If not, can you tell me what you are using instead?

[janus_zonstraal]

Try this extension
viewtopic.php?t=2400156

[Mulsiphix]

Try this extension
viewtopic.php?t=2400156

Thank you very much for responding

HiFiKabin actually refers to this extension in his article. He mentioned that it only backs up phpBB databases though. For those that would like to backup all their databases, including the non-phpBB ones, MySQLDumper was his answer. I do have non-phpBB databases present, so that is definitely a big plus of using MySQLDumper. I'm curious if anything else is out there that can accomplish this task

[janus_zonstraal]

You don't need MySQLDumper
Just run a script with Cron and ready, I backup all my databases every 4 hours

https://www.smekdigital.com/easy-cron-j ... r-website/

Database Backup Cron Job

Objective: Add a CRON job to create a SQL file that will use the current date and time in the file’s name. This SQL file will be saved in a folder called “DB-backup”.

Create a folder (NOT in the public_html or www folder) to save the backup files. Make sure it’s a level up from your web folder!
In this example, I created a folder called “DB-backup”
Add CRON job command and select the interval. Test CRON job and verify file creation.

This command will dump a MYSQL database in the FILES-backup folder using today’s date/time.

mysqldump -u Jimmy -pJimmyPW JimmyDB > DB-backups/$(date +\%m-\%d-\%Y-\%H.\%M.\%S)-JIMMY-db.sql

In this example, your hosting username and password (usually same login as your Cpanel or web hosting) is Jimmy / JimmyPW,

and your database name is JimmyDB, and the resulting file will be saved in the DB-backups folder.

[HiFiKabin]

How I do it can be read HERE

I found this topic, and your response HiFiKabin, and was really excited. I read the guide and grabbed MySQLBackup. Unfortunately, it doesn't start the install process. I looked into it and the project has been dead for three or so years. I'm curious, are you still using this software for automated backup? If not, can you tell me what you are using instead?

Yes, I am still using MySQLDumper and it is working correctly on my server. I have it in a separate directory running php 5.6.40 as it will not work on later php versions. I suspect that is the issue you are facing.

[Mick]

I backup all my databases every 4 hours

Blimey, that seems a lot but what the hey, do you check each one is good?

[janus_zonstraal]

Not all of them, ones in the month I check one backup.

[Mulsiphix]

Yes, I am still using MySQLDumper and it is working correctly on my server. I have it in a separate directory running php 5.6.40 as it will not work on later php versions. I suspect that is the issue you are facing.

Crap. Sounds like a good reason for it not to respond when I tried to initiate the installation. I'm using Shared hosting so using your solution to getting MySQLDumper to run isn't going to work for me. You might consider updating the guide on your site to reflect this. Although the part of your guide involving NetDrive and Acronis is still extremely helpful to me. Thank you for writing it up .

You don't need MySQLDumper
Just run a script with Cron and ready, I backup all my databases every 4 hours

https://www.smekdigital.com/easy-cron-j ... r-website/

Thank you for this! I will go ahead and set this up today

I backup all my databases every 4 hours

Blimey, that seems a lot but what the hey, do you check each one is good?

Is there a reason to believe they wouldn't be good? Also, how do you test them?

[janus_zonstraal]

There can always something go wrong.
I test them by importing the backup into my testboard

[Mulsiphix]

There can always something go wrong.
I test them by importing the backup into my testboard

Is it as simple as trying to load them into Cpanel and seeing if it throws an error or is there more to it?

[thecoalman]

You don't need MySQLDumper
Just run a script with Cron and ready, I backup all my databases every 4 hours

If you want a highly configurable script google automysqlbackup, note there is a lot more involved with it than just creating a cron job . Default is to create a backup every 24 hours. Basic settings allow for daily backups which are rotated out after 7 days, weekly backups rotated out every 4 weeks and monthly backups rotated out every 6 months but you can adjust as needed. In other words after it runs for six months you will have a backup for every day for the last 7 days, a backup for every week for four weeks and a backup for one month going back six months.

One thing to keep in mind about backups is you want to preserve previous backups within reason. If for example some unnamed nitwit reuses a forum with pruning enabled and moves a bunch of posts into it, then proceeds to overwrite the only backup with new backup after the posts have been pruned a few days later without realizing his mistake.... they are gone.

I have script for FTP to sync bakup folder on the server with local machine but there is lot of options for this. You can for example FTP it to backup server or email it. Also options for encrypting them. There is also options for incremental backups if you have large database and want to do it hourly or whatever.

It's worth exploring if you want a robust automated solution.

[janus_zonstraal]

Cpanel is for adjust or test the settings from the server not for databases.
Use phpmyadmin or a other tool.

Just import and look if everything is working in your test board and if the latest post are there.

[HiFiKabin]

Yes, I am still using MySQLDumper and it is working correctly on my server. I have it in a separate directory running php 5.6.40 as it will not work on later php versions. I suspect that is the issue you are facing.

Crap. Sounds like a good reason for it not to respond when I tried to initiate the installation. I'm using Shared hosting so using your solution to getting MySQLDumper to run isn't going to work for me. You might consider updating the guide on your site to reflect this. Although the part of your guide involving NetDrive and Acronis is still extremely helpful to me. Thank you for writing it up .

Yes, I'll update the Knowledge Base later. I am also on shared hosting and my hosting company allows me to choose php version by directory/sub directory. It might be worth your while asking your hosting company and see if they have something similar.

[Mulsiphix]

It might be worth your while asking your hosting company and see if they have something similar.

So pretty much follow your guide, and ask them to make the MySQLDumper folder run PHP v5 in that specific folder?

If you want a highly configurable script google automysqlbackup, note there is a lot more involved with it than just creating a cron job.

I saw you recommend this before, and loved how it curates backups as you've described. But in that other post you stated:

The only trouble with this is managing it. If you have root access look at this:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/automysqlbackup/

I am using Shared Hosting, so no root access. I figured this option was out for me. However, that comment was made 2+ years ago. Perhaps the software requirements have changed. Would I be able to run it on Shared hosting now?

[HiFiKabin]

It might be worth your while asking your hosting company and see if they have something similar.

So pretty much follow your guide, and ask them to make the MySQLDumper folder run PHP v5 in that specific folder?

Either ask them how to apply different php versions to a specific directory (my host allows user access for this) or upload all the MySQLDumper files to the server and ask the hosting company to do it for you. It all depends on their setup. Once you have the correct php version for that one directory the MySQLDumper should install without error.