MySQL backup module from Bacula Systems

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
(34 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...

MySQL backup with Percona support for enterprises.

The MySQL backup tool in Bacula Enterprise is designed to both simplify and accelerate the backup of your MySQL databases. Designed to save your valuable time, the system administrator does not need to know the internals of MySQL DB backup techniques or programming to write complex scripts. This MySQL backup software will automatically backup essential information such as configuration or user definitions. Putting speed and accurate data recovery into the hands of the user, our solution supports both Dump and binary backup of MySQL database and data recovery techniques.

The Point In Time Recovery feature is available for both Dump and Binary. Bacula’s MySQL backup tool also backs up vital meta-data information and manages Object filtering during database backup and restore. No special scripting skills are required.

This MySQL backup tool is available on Linux 32 and 64 bits platforms and supports nearly all previous versions of MySQL, up to and including 8.0.

mysql backup software tool

How to add MySQL backup client in Bacula?

Download free trial

Using an Enterprise, High-Transaction-Rate MySQL DB? 


With enterprise, high-transaction-rate MySQL databases, backup and restore recovery-time-objectives often become critically important even to the point that financial value can be attached to them. They often have business impact if they are down too long. The longer the restore takes the more money you lose. Bacula’s MySQL Percona module offers one of the fastest and easiest MySQL backup and recovery available in the industry today.

Enterprise MySQL Backup with Percona Module

MySQL Percona module for Bacula Enterprise is a hot backup utility for MySQL-based servers which removes the need to lock your database during the backup.

percona backup

This module uses techniques that ensure consistency of the whole backup. Another advantage is that Bacula’s Percona backup software does not require the use of large temporary files.

During restore, databases are restored to a temporary location, then made consistent using the ‘Prepare’ option on the Percona tools, prior to actually modifying the live database. Rather than doing the ‘Prepare’ work to make the database consistent at restore time, the ‘Prepare’ can be done automatically by the module during the backup phase.

Use Bacula to avoid using multiple backup solutions, or having inadequate protection from ransomware.

Download MySQL whitepaper

Key MySQL Backup Software Benefits

#
Point In Time Recovery feature for both Dump and Binary
#
Also backs up vital metadata information
#
Object filtering during backup and restore

#
Allows Dump and Binary mode combination
#
Backup MySQL DB with no special skills required
#
Script-free backup of MySQL database

The Bacula Systems’ MySQL backup software allows the administrator to choose between Dump (slower and smaller backups) or Binary (faster and larger backups). Our MySQL backup tool takes care of the log files when using the Point In Time Recovery (PITR) feature.

Choosing Between Binary and Dump

The following table might help you choose between the MySQL backup techniques supported by Bacula Enterprise. Key functionalities such as being able to restore your database at any point in time, or being able to filter objects during backup or restore should guide you. It is also possible to combine Dump and Binary techniques for the same server.

 

Functionality Dump Binary
Can restore directly a single object (table, schema, . . . ) Yes1 No
Backup speed Slow Fast
Restore speed Very Slow Fast
Backup size Small Big
Can restore at any point in time Yes Yes
Incremental/Differential support Yes Yes
Online backup Yes Yes
Consistent Yes Yes
Can restore to previous major version of MySQL Yes2 No
Can restore to newer major version of MySQL Yes No

 

1To restore a single object, the dump file must be edited.

2To restore an SQL dump to a previous version of MySQL, you might have to edit the SQL file if you use features that are not available on the previous version. Generally, restoring to a previous version of MySQL is neither supported nor guaranteed.

MySQL Backup Software Internals

Dump Mode

During a database’s life, MySQL generates logs that can be used to do replication and/or protect your database using P.I.T.R (Point In Time Recovery).

By default, the MySQL backup software from Bacula will dump each database separately, which means that if you need to restore the entire server, databases will be consistent separately, but they are not backed up at exactly the same time, so the databases are not globally consistent. To address this issue, the Bacula Enterprise MySQL backup tool will also save log files generated during the backup. These log files may later be played back to ensure that the databases are consistent at a particular point in time.

In the example presented in Figure 1, during the backup of the databases “DB1”, “DB2” and “DB3” (that can take several hours), 3 log files were generated, and will be included in the Full backup.

Interaction between Backup and Binary LogsInteraction between Backup and Binary Logs

The next incremental or differential backup will save only new binary logs generated after the Full. To ensure that only one copy of each log file is included in your backup, you should activate the Accurate option for your Job.

In the example show above, the first Incremental job after the Full backup will include logs 5 and 6, and the second Incremental job will include logs 7 and 8. A Differential backup would include log files 5, 6, 7 and 8.

When you use the all_databases option, all databases will be dumped at the same time, and the log files will not be flushed at the end of the Full backup, but logs generated before the end of the job are included in the backup. In the example shown in Figure 2, the Full backup will generate a single dump “all-databases.sql” and will include log files 2 and 3. The first subsequent Incremental backup will include log files 4, 5 and 6.

Interaction between all_databases option and Binary Logs

Interaction between all_databases option and Binary Logs

Binary Mode

In binary mode, the MySQL backup tool uses Percona XtraBackup, which is an open-source hot backup utility for MySQL based servers that doesn’t need to lock your database during the backup. The Percona technology uses techniques that ensure consistency of the the whole backup.

It can back up data from InnoDB, XtraDB, and MyISAM tables on unmodified MySQL, as well as a Percona Server with XtraDB.

Further help:

  • Using other DBs in your infrastructure? Bacula Enterprise has solutions for Oracle, PostgreSQL, MSSQL and SAP databases.
  • Backup training is available in different locations, depending on the Certified Bacula Systems Training Center you choose.