MySQL Server Backup, Restoration, and Disaster Recovery Planning

Performing backups, recovery and disaster planning are some of the most important functions of a database administrator. However, these functions are often neglected. Just ask the DBA for the Denver post: http://neighbors.denverpost.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=123003000

This session will cover what software can be used for backups highlighting the venerable mysqldump and the online backup of MySQL server 6.0. I will touch on all other commonly used backup options as well.

Backup strategies are next. What to backup, where to store the data, and how long to store the data are points of fundamental importance to your backup strategy. Each of these will be covered.

In addition, I will cover the recovery process, and the preparation of a disaster recovery plan. All the backups in the world do no good if you can’t restore what you backed up. More than once I have seen situations where people thought they were performing proper backups but they didn’t restore and test these backups. When these backups were needed they just didn’t work.

Many database administrators don’t even know what a disaster plan is. I will cover the basics of a disaster plan and why they are important to an organizations data.

Emphasis on practicality and common sense (which is not very common)

.. such as ..

"Do you check your backups to make certain that they are really backing up correctly?" 
"Do you have a plan for when the hurricane wipes out your data center?" 
"Maybe it is a good idea to back up the users also...." 
"Did you really check to make sure you backup was done correctly?"

and my favorite

"If you don't perform backups and check them routinely...polish up your resume. Just don't ask me for a job!"

Backups, recovery and disaster planning will never be hip and cool. But they are too important to neglect. This session will teach you how and why you should perform backups. Just as important you will learn why you should plan beyond the actual backup.