Backup before update

[mowbars]

I want to backup my database before installing 3.7.2 Patch Level 1 as instructed but backing up to my computer is a bit of a mystery.
I think I have found how to do it in 'Backing up the Database via phpMyAdmin'.
Problem is with the first instruction which is 'Go to phpMyAdmin in your browser' - how do I do that please?
Brian P.

[Steve Machol]

The only consistently reliable method of backing up and restoring a database is with shell access via telnet or ssh. This is because backing up with a PHP script like that in the Admin CP or phpMyAdmin can result in PHP timeout errors and an incomplete backup file.

Please see the instructions here:

Backup:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_ssh_backup

Restore:
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/maintenance_ssh_restore

If you don't have telnet or SSH access, some people have reported success with these scripts:

MySQLDumper:
http://www.mysqldumper.de/en/index.php

MySQLHotxcopy:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134821&highlight=mysqlhotcopy

[mowbars]

Good grief Steve... I would need to get myself off to university for a degree in computer sciences to understand any of that but at my great age that isn't really practicle.

Isn't there a version for ordinary humans or is vBulletin just designed for computer techies?

I hesitate to think how many databases there are running without proper backups, I can't possbly be alone in not being able to cope with this.

Brian P.

[peterska2]

If your forums are small (less than 1,000 users and 1,000 posts with very few attachments) then you can use the backup function in the AdminCP. Otherwise, you need to use one of the methods in Steve's post above.

[mowbars]

Thanks Kerry-Anne - looks like it's back to school for me.
At 72 that's not going to be easy :-)

Brian.