[vbcron] Automatic database backup [v1.3]

This script will allow you to automaticly back-up your vBulletin database (or any database you have access to).


Current Stable Version: 1.3.1

System Requirements-

vBulletin RC 2 or later
Unix/Linux server with MySQL Dump support
Ability to chmod folders to 777 (775 works on some servers)

[high]IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL THAT USE THIS SCRIPT[/high]

This script invokes an outside process that runs in the backround on your server to backup and compress your database. It is important to remember that this is not an instant process, do not enter you ftp as soon as the script says it is done and try to download your backup. It will likely be incomplete and your server will probbly still be writting the file to disk.

I ussally give the process an hour or two before I mess with the file, larger databases will take more time of course.

Installing the script-

1. You will need to change the information here for it to work correctly on your server:

PHP Code:

// ######################## Begin edits ######################
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // database host

define('DB_USER', 'db_user'); // database username

define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password'); // database password

define('DB_NAME', 'db_name'); // vbulletins database name

define('DUMP_PATH', '/path/to/dump/folder'); // path to where db backup will be stored

define('DUMP_MAKE_TAR', 1); // set this to 1 for the backup to be compressed in a .tar.gz file
// ####################### End Edits ########################## 


2. CHMOD the folder you specified in DUMP_PATH to 777

3. Upload the vbcron_db_backup_131.php file to the /vbroot/includes/cron directory

4. Enter you admin control panel, under Scheduled Tasks click [high]Add New Scheduled Task[/high]

Enter the information has follows:

Title: Automatic Database Back-up

Day of the Week:

This is the day of the week the task should run on. Set this to * to have it not apply, or for it to run every day (if Day of the Month is set to * below). Otherwise select a specific day. Note that this will override the day of the month option, unless this is set to *.

Day of the Month:
Set this to the specific day of the month the task should run. This is overridden by the Day of the Week setting above. Set this to * to have it not apply.

Hour:
This is the hour of the day the task should run. Set it to * to have it run every hour.

Minute:
This is the minute of the hour the task should run. Set it to * to have it run every minute (not really recommended!).

Log Actions:
If this is set to Yes, every time the scheduled task runs, a log will be made indicating that the task was run, and in certain cases, additional information will be provided (e.g. for the Birthday Email task, the usernames who were sent birthday wishes will be noted).

Filename:
Enter the path to vbcron_db_backup_131.php, ./includes/cron/vbcron_db_backup_131.php should work in most cases

What was added in 1.3.1

- Fixed all bugs reported in 1.3

What was added in 1.3

- Added ability for script to leave logs

Improvments to come:

- Email alert when db is begin backed up
- Close board when back-up is in process
- 'Lock down' db durring backup so no one can access it
- Table, by table back-up
- Clear session table before backup
- Make script more windows friendly
- Delete last .sql (or .tar.gz) file when doing current back-up
- [high]Ability to use hashed file names for back-ups[/high]
- [high]Save back-up to forgin server[/high]

To come: version 2.0

2.0 will introduce most, if not all the fetures listed above.

Public beta testing will begin in the next few days, expect a stable version in at least 2 weeks time.

[ambrosious]

Does anyone know: How to overwrite the previous day's backup?

Also, the script doesn't seem to put anything in my backup folder and the path is set correctly ie 'home/ambro/public_html/vbulletin/backup/' so I'm lost and looking for ideas.

[almqdad]

this hach is good but it needs upgrade

when

[caislander]

Anybody,

I have installed this hack and when I run it from the control panel it says that it was invoked with no errors and the log says that it wrote a file to the folder but when i go to the folder there is nothing there?? can anyone give me an idea what is wrong?

thanks

[Rambo]

*installs*

Great mod! works perfectly =).

[Logikos]

Hey brad, you think this same file will work for 3.5?

[TheEDIGuy]

Sure would be nice if the author of this vbcron would update it for 3.5.x. I loved this thing.

[nitro]

The file works fine in 3.5x but logging is broken, change

$DB_site to $vbulletin->db

and 

comment out the log line leave the echo line. Doubt it would take much to fix the logging function but I dont have time right now.

[TheEDIGuy]

It doesn't work, even with the change. It has something to do with the include at the beginning of the file.

I've played with it, but don't know enough about it to be able to fix it, unfortunately.

[GTAce]

Hopefully I don't get reamed for this, but since this mod is so outdated, I figured I'd let you know about an alternative...I've written a similar tutorial that will get this done...which is actually not version or software dependent - so it will work on any software, any MySQL database for that matter...The current script will maintain a rolling copy of the latest 3 backups, but I plan to write more in the future that will save more backups and some that will give you the ability to run both daily and/or weekly and monthly backups...Anywho, you can find it here

[Logikos]

I ported this exact hack to 3.5.4 with Brads permissions. You can find the 3.5.4 version here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=114097