Topic: Mysql database backup error

[arne]

Hello !

I have discovered (!?) a rather serious problem with the MySql database backup.

I wanted to move one SME 6.0.1 intallation to one newer and bether PC.

So i made a backup to workstation of the old installation and a new installation with backup restore at the new PC.

Everything works ok, exept for one thing - ca 50 persent of the databases were missing in the new intallation. In some strange way it did not backup/restore all of the databases, just some of them.

I have experienced the same error with the SME 5.6 before on different hardware.

The total amount of backup data is 390 MB in compressed form. (Is the 2 GB limit is still there ??)

In this case it was not a big problem because I could just backup/restore the missing databases via phpmyadmin. If it had been a harddisk crash or something like that I would have lost my database datas, at least 50 % of the database datas.

I tried to go into the bacup file with the Winrar program to see if it were possible to verify if all databases were backed up. I think there is only one common mysql database dump file "mysql.dump", so you can not see if all databases is there or not (??!).

Is it anybody who know how to handle the situation, to make sure that it (the SME server) makes complete and proper database backups ? (I think this is the most serious problem I have experienced with the SME server.)

One other temporary solution - I think it is possible to make a complete backup of the databases with one command, something like:

mysqldump --all-databases> alldatabases.sql

(have not tried, found it here:)
http://www.devshed.com/c/a/MySQL/Backing-up-and-restoring-your-MySQL-Database/1/

But I dont know how to restore such a complete backup. What will then happend with all the datas that is already inside the mysql server, will it be overwritten or what ? (Like the mysql database with user accounts, the Horde database and the ca 50 % of the custom databases that actually were restored in the first place.)

Aanybody who have tried such a complete database backup/restore ? (The reason for this question is that I think it could be an idea to make one aditional "spare" database backup, for the case that the "primary backup" should not contain all database datas.

I would be thankfull for all info about this backup problem.

Best reg Arne.

[arne]

I have been working a bit on this problem now.

It apears that it is imposseble to make a backup of all the databases in one command and then to restore it in one command. (Unless someone knows some other way of doing this.)

I tried to backup and restore the whole localhost database via phpmyadmin, but this also did not work.

I also tried to dump 100 % of the databasecontent on the new PC to see if this would help. Did not help.

Then backed up one and restored one and one database via phpmyadmin. This worked ok and the new SME server vere again populated with the database datas.

I think it happen some strange things with the database backup at the SME server. Some times it work and some times i does not. I think I have seen the same problems on many SME installations before. (But it might also have something to do with the underlaying technologies ie mysql.)

If anybody knows more about this problem or what can be done with it, I'm courious to know.

Best reg Arne.

[arne]

I think I have seen this problem with the loss of database datas at the SME server before.

If anybody have simular experiences by loosing datas I would be courious to know.

I also desroyd my admin password during the troubleshooting so I was locked out from the mysql database completely. This situation were solved via contribs.org archive and a familibrown.org howto. The howto is made for the SME 5.1, but it also works without a problem for the SME 6.0.1:

http://www.familybrown.org/howtos/mysql-password-howto.html