Saving users data on a backup

[Charlie_Brown]

I am not all that savvy at this stuff and I want to do this later when vb4 goes gold. All I want to do is maintain post and all users data etc... I have a full image of the server if needed at a later date. Can I just use myphp admin to do this and restore it as that seems the easiest method? I am not going to delete my mysql database but wanting to do a fresh install. Also what about the database backup in the admin panel of vbulletin?

I hope I made sense to what I am wanting.

[Dody]

You need to backup your database and your /forums folder. If you have a small forum, you can backup your database using vbulletin admincp, otherwise you need to use mysqldump or hotcopy. Follow these links:
Backing Up The Database via SSH/Telnet
2) Backing-Up the Current Database
Database Backup

[Charlie_Brown]

Okay great I can't really do the first 2 that's geek did the 3 one and got 89MB sql file. Use My PHPAdmin to upload the live site sql to the test one correct? Correct meaning that all the data from the live will put itself into the test site sections/catagories etc.....

[Dody]

You can't import 89MB with phpmyadmin (due the execution time). You can use bigdump to dump the .sql file into the database.

[Charlie_Brown]

I can get the below info from my config file right? and is that all I need? I am learning here but it is really hard to understand.

$db_server   = 'localhost';
$db_name     = '';
$db_username = '';
$db_password = '';

Thanks

[Dody]

Yes if you want to restore your backup, then you enteryour config.php db variables into bigdump and it will do the magic for you.

[Charlie_Brown]

Okay thanks I am going to try to restore on my current test forum as there is new data. Doing this from a live backup to the test will not effect the test as long as I have the database correct on the test forum right?

[Charlie_Brown]

Okay since I know not what I am doing I need to leave the optional alone and default? Also I have uploaded my sql file to the test forum's root so I just upload the php file then enter with the proper url now and let it do its magic?

[Dody]

You are right, for ore details you can read the FAQ page the the bugdump homepage, there should be a full description of what to do. But basically edit the database info. and upload it to the same path as your .sql file and start the dump. Make sure it is not on the same server, if so, make sure you change the database name, otherwise it will overwrite the current live database.

[Charlie_Brown]

Yes my live mysql has one name and the test sql has another as they are on the same server.

[Charlie_Brown]

Well that worked but overwrote my vb4 forum.

[Charlie_Brown]

My test forum when users are online it shows then online in the test forum too. All I wanted was the users posts and such and this restored everything I have on my live site.

[Charlie_Brown]

I just restored a backup so all is well right now.