Open Tech Notes

Improving MySQL database backup script

The original script is here

Reason: As usual, I checked the database backup file and found the size was really small. It meant the backup script had some problems. After then, I was told that the database’s root password had been changed. Oh, that was the culprit!

Now that I know what the problem is, how can I improve it?

The first thing comes to my mind is: I must add a flow controller statement which will tell me (by email)  if the backup process is successful.  But what if I read the email too late and the backup time is missed? Fortunately, the password is stored in a configuration file. Whenever the DB admin changes the password, she has to change the configuration file. So the better solution is: read the password from the configuration file instead of hard code in the script file.