Backup/Restore a large database

[sarahk]

A client has a large MySQL database and the existing backup & restore options provided through vBulletin are timing out as the database is large (596MB).

The hosting console has limited features - it's cpanel or direct admin or anything. We don't have shell access but will be able to use PHP's exec().

Prior to software upgrades we need to be backing up the database and able to restore it if need be.

Any recommendations?

[Marco van Herwaarden]

The only reliable method of backing up and restoring a database is with shell access via telnet or ssh. This is because backing up with a PHP script like that in the Admin CP or phpMyAdmin can result in PHP timeouts errors and an incomplete backup file. Please see the instructions here:

Backup:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_ssh_backup

Restore:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_ssh_restore

P.S. If you don't have shell access, some people have also reported success with these scripts:

MySQLDumper:
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/index.php

MySQLHotxcopy:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134821&highlight=mysqlhotcopy

Bigdump:
http://www.ozerov.de/bigdump.php