How do I backup?

[soletrader]

How do I backup my database? If I copy and move all files from my server to my computer, will that be a good backup? Will that save my threads?

Thanks

[Floris]

Always backup: http://www.vbulletin.com/go/backup - I prefer through shell.

If you back up and the backup is 100% - yes it will have everything, the settings, the users, the forums, the threads and posts, private msgs, etc.

[soletrader]

And this is in a text format? Im not too familiar with this process.

I saved a .sql file onto my comp which is approx 10mb. Is this the valid backup file?

[Floris]

This depends. If your database is 10mb, yes. If it is 100mb, then obviously not.

If you go to the admin control panel of vbulletin and browse in the left menu down to maintenance and click on database backup and make a backup like that you can get confirmation.

10mb should be doable through the browser.

Once it has completed to your HD you can open it in your fav. text editor and the last line should read: ### dump completed ###