[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.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by kristian

Does my server need to run with 'Safe Mode' OFF for this to work?

It shouldn't make a difference. Do you have the backup directory chmoded to 777? And are you sure you have the correct path to the backup directory?

[WildEye]

Originally Posted by Boofo

How about the day of the week and the date behind it? Like this:

Sunday-Mar_3_2004.tz?

EDIT: I figured it out. This is what I have now:

$cur_date = date('l-F_j_Y');

and the filename is:

Monday-March_8_2004.tar.gz

Works like a charm, Brad! Thank you, sir.

Thanks alot to both of you. Just had to include the path to mysqldump, which I misstyped a couple of times (and forgot to include the '...

Very nice feature, which i'll see if works tomorrow morning after my scheduled backup at 6am (already tested the run now thing)

[Mr. HillBilly]

What settings would I set to make the script run every 2 days in the admincp task area?

[WildEye]

Small problem...

While the task ran as scheduled and made the file in the correct area, the time was half an hour late... and there is no record of the script being run in the log. (view all). I selected log entries: yes.

Any tips?

[cteselle]

I was wondering about this as well... I looked at the other cron scripts and noticed a call to the log_cron_action function. I tried adding:

PHP Code:

log_cron_action('Database Backup Completed', $nextitem); 


to the end of the file, and the script stalled altogether. Anyone know why this function wouldn't work right? :ermm:

[Pikok]

Originally Posted by WildEye

Small problem...

While the task ran as scheduled and made the file in the correct area, the time was half an hour late... and there is no record of the script being run in the log. (view all). I selected log entries: yes.

Any tips?

There has to be someone on your site at the time it's set to run or it won't run until the next time someone visits.. Also, only one script's run each time, even if more than one are waiting to be ran.

[mOdEtWo]

Originally Posted by Brad.loo

Planned improvements:

Zip file type support
Delete last backup when doing current one
Close boards when backing up
Clear session table before backup
Options to NOT include stuff like the postcache in the backup

When?

[Martyjp]

Originally Posted by Boofo

It shouldn't make a difference. Do you have the backup directory chmoded to 777? And are you sure you have the correct path to the backup directory?

What format for the path should we be using?

/home/space/public_html/backupdir or ./backupdir ?

[*arie]

thanks, this worked for me!

btw, Martyjp , i used the 1st path you mentioned.
/home/space/public_html/backupdir

[Morpheus84]

nobody could help me ?