Backing up a MySQL database to a .txt file using a PHP script

Fonz · 2007-01-23, 08:48 AM

I'm looking for some way to back up a huge MySQL database to a downloadable .txt file. I have found some PHP scripts like this one: http://www.zend.com/codex.php?id=634&single=1 but that doesn't seem to do anything.

Can anyone (cd34 or so

) can help me out here please?
Thanx!

cd34 · 2007-01-23, 09:02 AM

if it is huge, you're likely to run into timeouts on apache that aren't going to allow it to be downloaded completely.

What you can try is something like forking a process that does

mysqldump -q -u username -ppassword databasename > /tmp/dump.sql

and writing the pid of the forked process so that you can check to see if the process is still running. With most apache servers, in 2-3 minutes a php script (or any cgi script) will time out and kill the process -- resulting in an incomplete dump.

Alternatively you can write your own dump that will go through the records one by one and output a . or space to the screen to keep apache from timing out.

Fonz · 2007-01-23, 09:20 AM

Thanx, I'll give that a try

Oh and does there has to be a space between -p password?

cd34 · 2007-01-23, 09:52 AM

it needs to be -ppassword or -p'password' if there are characters that the shell might escape.

CPR · 2007-01-29, 06:13 PM

I would generally recommend using mysqlhotcopy, mainly because its faster than mysqldump, although it uses locks.
But since you need a PHP script to do the work you probably don't have access to the server?!

Check it out http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/mysqldump.html

2007-01-23, 08:48 AM	#1
Fonz Former pr0n slinger. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 7,932	Backing up a MySQL database to a .txt file using a PHP script I'm looking for some way to back up a huge MySQL database to a downloadable .txt file. I have found some PHP scripts like this one: http://www.zend.com/codex.php?id=634&single=1 but that doesn't seem to do anything. Can anyone (cd34 or so ) can help me out here please? Thanx! __________________ See how I abuse little trees on my Shumi no Bonsai Blog

2007-01-23, 09:02 AM	#2
cd34 a.k.a. Sparky Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Palm Beach, FL, USA Posts: 2,396	if it is huge, you're likely to run into timeouts on apache that aren't going to allow it to be downloaded completely. What you can try is something like forking a process that does mysqldump -q -u username -ppassword databasename > /tmp/dump.sql and writing the pid of the forked process so that you can check to see if the process is still running. With most apache servers, in 2-3 minutes a php script (or any cgi script) will time out and kill the process -- resulting in an incomplete dump. Alternatively you can write your own dump that will go through the records one by one and output a . or space to the screen to keep apache from timing out. __________________ SnapReplay.com a different way to share photos - iPhone & Android

2007-01-23, 09:20 AM	#3
Fonz Former pr0n slinger. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 7,932	Thanx, I'll give that a try Oh and does there has to be a space between -p password? __________________ See how I abuse little trees on my Shumi no Bonsai Blog

2007-01-23, 09:52 AM	#4
cd34 a.k.a. Sparky Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: West Palm Beach, FL, USA Posts: 2,396	it needs to be -ppassword or -p'password' if there are characters that the shell might escape. __________________ SnapReplay.com a different way to share photos - iPhone & Android

2007-01-29, 06:13 PM	#5
CPR Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: DK Posts: 5	I would generally recommend using mysqlhotcopy, mainly because its faster than mysqldump, although it uses locks. But since you need a PHP script to do the work you probably don't have access to the server?! Check it out http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/mysqldump.html