PHP script for a MySQL dump cron job

Question

I am trying to create a script that would run through a cron job, so it would dump the database on a regular basis. I also tried a couple of combinations with quotations and dots, but neither worked.

<?php
$date = date('Y-m-d-H:i:s');
$host = 'localhost';
$user = 'username';
$password = 'password';
$database = 'databasename';
echo shell_exec("mysqldump -h $host -u $user -p$password $database > mysqlbackup$date.sql");
?>

Answer 1

It would be a lot wiser to run the database dump directly as a cron job. I can see that you already have the command ready, so type crontab -e and enter something like to run it nightly at 03:30 AM:

30 03 * * * /usr/bin/mysqldump -u[username] -p[password] --all-databases --single-transaction > /home/USERNAME/backups/full_backup_`date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S`.sql

And avoid writing your password in the command - instead, use .my.cnf .