[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.

[MrZeropage]

I hope the "extended version" will be released soon, which switches the board offline for the backup-process - and of course turns it on again after finishing

[Christine]

ThePartyBorg,

I am also backing up to another server. Why not just write a system cron that will take the datadump from this vBcron and ftp it to the other box?

Brad.loo,

Nice job! One question -- would it be possible to exclude tables from this (search/word/etc) so as to pare down the size of the datadump?

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Martyjp

What format for the path should we be using?

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

/home/space/public_html/backupdir

[lasto]

anychance of being able to actually reload the backup back though this proggie as i dont have a clue of how to telnet in and do it that way.

On vb2 someone made a hack that did just this it saved to a folder on the server and you could also re-install it if needed.If this was added this would be a cool hack esp for someone like me as this is one of the major reasons i wont update to vb3 cause my host wont allow outside connections so i cant use a program like MYSQLfront to do it all for me.

Plz consider it

[Marulatree]

I'm getting this error:

Parse error: parse error in /home/******/public_html/forum/includes/cron/****.php on line 31

[TCSoul]

Originally Posted by Morpheus84

At my vB3 the Script won't will be work
I click on "Do it now" and my vB says "All done."
On my FTP Server there's nothing to see about a backup

Plz help.

I'm actually experiencing the same problem as Morpheus, and I'm trying to diagnose it a little bit further. I'm thinking that the script is being found just fine, but it is exiting out of itself because of the first line of the script:

PHP Code:

if ($DB_site = NULL)
{
    exit;
} 


Now then, I am already fairly certain this is a stupid question... BUT.... I sure don't see any variables called $DB_site anywhere in this file. Does it make sense that that would be the cause of the problem? I don't really think so, because everybody else can seem to get this working fine... That said, would this problem result from typing an improper path name in teh actual script. I'm confused because vb says it is 'All Done', but nothing is actually happening, nor is anythgin being registered in my Scheduled Tasks log....

[mOdEtWo]

Originally Posted by TCSoul

BUT.... I sure don't see any variables called $DB_site anywhere in this file. Does it make sense that that would be the cause of the problem? I don't really think so, because everybody else can seem to get this working fine...

Nah, it hasn't got anything to do with vB. It's using MySQLdump, a command to backup databases to files, and you specify the database name in the php script.

Anyway, Brad.loo, s'up? When can we expect an update with the new features? I think this is one of the best "hacks"/additions to vB3 so far. So keep up the good work!

[Marulatree]

bump?

[NTLDR]

Originally Posted by TCSoul

PHP Code:

if ($DB_site = NULL)
{
    exit;
} 


PHP Code:

if ($DB_site == NULL)
{
    exit;
} 


That is what that section should be like.

[BBQ]

I vote for the ability to move the backup to a different server too!
I would like to have the backups ftp'd to my home ftp-server, but i doubt i can set any system cron's on my hosting site.