Automate mysql backups

A few weeks ago I came across a great little tool named mysql-zrm for backing up one or more remote mysql databases. It makes taking snapshots of one or more mysql databases a cinch. Here are some of the features listed on the homepage.

• Schedule full and incremental backups of your MySQL database.
• Backup your remote MySQL database through a firewall.
• Configure on-the-fly compression and/or encryption of your MySQL backups to meet your storage and security needs.
• Get e-mail notification about the status of your backups and receive MySQL backup reports via RSS feed.
• Monitor and browse your backups.
• Define retention policies and delete backups that have expired.
• Recover a database easily to any point in time or to any particular transaction, e.g. just before a user made an error.

For a quick and easy way to get started I found this tutorial very helpful.