Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Select the next tab (Triggers); click the “New...” button, and select the backup schedule
you want—for example, “Daily at 3.20 AM”—and click the OK button. Select the next
tab (Actions); click the “New...” button, and ensure that the Action drop-down list is
set to “Start a program.” In the “Program/script” text box, type in the full command
from before; you can use the Browse button to find select the
mysqldump.exe
program,
and then you can add the user, password, database, and result-file options yourself.
Click the OK button to close the New Action dialog box, and then again to close the
Create Task window. Your new task should now appear in the list of Active Tasks.
General Backup Tips
The frequency of your backups depends on how often data updates occur in your ap-
plication, and how valuable those updates are to your organization. For example, you
might be able to absorb the loss of some or all user comments on your hobby blog, but
not the sales data for your high-throughput online store, or a university student-marks
database.
When you're backing up a database, it's wise to ensure that MySQL isn't being used
by other users. This allows you to get a consistent backup, where all operations that
have been intended to run have completed. You can ensure single-user access by having
mysqldump
lock the tables using the
lock-tables
or the
opt
option. If for some reason
you can't lock the database, don't be overly concerned: having a near-perfect backup
is usually much better than no backup at all.
Make sure that the backup ends up on stable media—such as flash memory or a high-
quality writable CD or DVD—and that the stable media isn't stored with the computer.
There's little point in storing a backup on the same disk as the MySQL databases, since
the backup would disappear with the databases in case of a disk failure. There's also
little point in storing the backup on a computer, CD, or flash memory device nearby,
since theft or destruction would result in the loss of everything. Get in the habit of
storing your backup offsite; we sometimes swap backups with family members who
live nearby, and often leave a home backup at work. Alternatively, copy your backups
to a trustworthy online storage site; a simple web search for “online storage service”
turns up many low-cost and free services.
Take care to regularly check that your backups are occurring correctly and are usable.
Often, the only time people look at their backups is when they need them, and there
are few things as frustrating as finding that the backups you desperately need have not
been generated correctly due to a problem such as a full backup device.
Finally, remember to treat the security of your backups with the same seriousness as
you do the server; an attacker could get access to your company's sensitive data by
simply stealing a backup DVD from your home. Think carefully before you trust any
person or organization with your valuable data.
