Backing up my database...

[FleaBag]

When attempting to back up my database, either by creating the file on the server or downloading via a browser it always fails. I hit my server's max execution time of 240 seconds. Can I download my database in two halves, and use it to restore the site on another server? Also, is there a better way for me to do this? I have no Telnet or SSH access.

Thanks guys.

[LBSources]

When attempting to back up my database, either by creating the file on the server or downloading via a browser it always fails. I hit my server's max execution time of 240 seconds. Can I download my database in two halves, and use it to restore the site on another server? Also, is there a better way for me to do this? I have no Telnet or SSH access.

Thanks guys.
how large is the board? do you have attachments and avatars and other stuff in the db or in a filesystem?

this might be timing it out.. try to move to file system if this is the case..

its just one suggestion.. im sure others will come with better suggestiong

Lenny :)

[FleaBag]

Hi Lenny! Both my avatars and profile pictures are stored in the filesystem. The database is about 220mb in size. Thanks for the advice. :)

[nitro]

Does your host provide cPanel ? if so you should be able to use the backup feature in there to backup your db, the only problem is your new host will probably need cPanel aswell for the restore.

You coudl allways drop your host a ticket to back up your DB all gzipped up to your space is another option.

[FleaBag]

Hi nitro, no cPanel I'm afraid. My host is a private individual, a friend of a friend... It is often very difficult to get hold of him, and I have just experienced 10 days of outage - this is why I'm in a little bit of a rush to get a decent backup now the server is back on-line. Thanks!

[Snake]

My thread on vB.com should be helpful, check it out: http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136166

[nitro]

He doesnt have telnet/ssh and with a db that size phpMyAdmin is just as likley to time out as any other php script.

Fleabag I suggest you go to hotscripts.com and search the cgi/perl section for mysql backup. There are several comercial and free applications for cgi to backup and restore mysql. cgi should not suffer timeouts like php so I just hope you can run cgi scripts in your browser from that server. I would also test your backup thoroughly locally if I was you before killing your old host space.

[Dan]

I suggest moving avatars and attachements out of the database that should solve the issue.

[FleaBag]

Aftermath: Thanks for the link to the thread, I took a look but it doesn't seem to offer me any new options... As nitro mentioned I don't have SSH; although I do have phpmyadmin installed but that times out also, just like the default backup feature in vB.

Nitro: I hadn't considered using a CGI script, I'm pretty certain it's set up on the server - if it isn't I'll deal with that when I get there lol.

Dan: As mentioned all profile pics, avatars and attachments are already in the file system, but thanks for lending some support anyway.

As an update, I seem to have managed to use vB's backup feature to create 4 different SQL files - I haven't done this kind of thing in years - but from what I can see I should be able to use those files seperately to restore the database. The only issue though is that even when exporting the postindex table on it's own, it still times out.

Thanks for the support people, I didn't expect such a helpful response. :)

[FleaBag]

I managed to back up using a PHP script I found on hotscripts.com [thanks nitro, hadn't through of that]... You can find the script named backupDB here (http://www.silisoftware.com/scripts/?scriptname=backupDB) - it is very nicely done and has protection against server timeouts.

Here is the dimela though...

My database on the server is 215mb.
When I gzip, it goes down to 61mb.
When I gunzup - it goes to 600mb!?!?

Anyone have any idea why?