[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.

[Onkel_Tom]

Okay, I wrote down the installation instruction for the change to handle all database parameters directly from config.php in few lines.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Onkel_Tom

Okay, I wrote down the installation instruction for the change to handle all database parameters directly from config.php in few lines.

I will try it now.

[Boofo]

Ok, it works. I had to change this (in your instructions file):

PHP Code:

if (DUMP_MAKE_TAR == '1') 


to this (to get it to compress it, though):

PHP Code:

if ($DUMP_MAKE_TAR == '1') 


But other than that, great job and thank you, sir.

[Onkel_Tom]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Ok, it works. I had to change this (in your instructions file):

PHP Code:

if (DUMP_MAKE_TAR == '1') 


to this (to get it to compress it, though):

PHP Code:

if ($DUMP_MAKE_TAR == '1') 


But other than that, great job and thank you, sir.

I updated the instruction file !
Thanks Boofo

[Brad]

Sorry for all the updates guys, fixed that last missed DUMP_DATE. No version change but new file in the first post.

Haven't been getting much sleep as of late, so thanks for catching all these for me, I belive the one up now should be stable enough to run until I get 2.0 wrapped up

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Brad.loo

Sorry for all the updates guys, fixed that last missed DUMP_DATE. No version change but new file in the first post.

Haven't been getting much sleep as of late, so thanks for catching all these for me, I belive the one up now should be stable enough to run until I get 2.0 wrapped up

Brad, I hope you are going to use Onkel_Tom's code when you update to the new version. It works flawlessly and I like the idea that my password and other info isn't in 3 or 4 files when it only needs to be in one.

[Onkel_Tom]

For my "old" friend Boofo now a restore script for the database backups to try.
All is explained in the script itself, and please corect my bad english, I'm german and learned english only in school

Please remove the script after testing from your server because it's a to big security risc to leave them at the server!
Should be only used if a restore of an backup must be done.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Onkel_Tom

For my "old" friend Boofo now a restore script for the database backups to try.
All is explained in the script itself, and please corect my bad english, I'm german and learned english only in school

Please remove the script after testing from your server because it's a to big security risc to leave them at the server!
Should be only used if a restore of an backup must be done.

You just keep them coming, sir. I will test this out. And, thank you, again.

[Evilboy]

pb :
Backup db

Database backup script was invoked without error, to check that it was done correctly see if the file was written to the folder you specified in the configuration variables. It may take some time before your server finishes backing up depending on the size of your database

?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Evilboy

pb :
Backup db

Database backup script was invoked without error, to check that it was done correctly see if the file was written to the folder you specified in the configuration variables. It may take some time before your server finishes backing up depending on the size of your database

?

This is new, to let you know that the php part is done, but the back-up may or may not be finished.

The script will not automaticly throw a 'done' message like most vbcron scripts.