If you serve dynamic content using a MySQL database, you probably have a way to backup the table structure and data using your server control panel. Most likely, you have access to phpMyAdmin or shell access to create a mysqldump.
I encountered a problem recently that forced me to look for a way to backup a remote MySQL database without using my hosting companys phpMyAdmin nor mysqldump. My hosting company is in the process of changing servers, so for some reason I am unable to login to the phpMyAdmin interface that they supply. And since I do not have shell access to the account, I am unable to use mysqldump. (Or if I am able to use it, I cannot figure out how). In any case, I thought it would be a simple matter to do a dump remotely using some other means. It ended up taking me hours to find a solution, so I thought I would post it here in case anyone ever needs it.
Download MySQL Administrator from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/administrator/. This is a free download. Install it and type in the connection settings to connect to your database. You will need to know the URL or IP address, the username and the password to connect. Once connected, there is a Backup tab. You can even schedule automated backups using this feature.
Since my content changes frequently, I really need to backup often, as I would hate to lose everything in some mishap. Now that I have the ability to do this without having to depend upon my hosting company, I feel much better knowing my data is safe and can be easily restored.
