MySQL Backup is written in Perl. It uses mysqlshow to grab the database names and "show tables" to grab the table names for a user's account, and then uses mysqldump to save the data in a subdirectory named in the script. It then tars and gzips the files, using the date and time for the file name. It can be run from cron on a daily basis. It now removes old files and has an option to email the gzip file to an admin. It also has options to use "select data into outfile" or a regular "select" for users who can't use mysqldump. (Some hosts don't allow that.)

Features :

• options to refine the tar/gzip functions (-z switch,
  piped or two step method, intermediate text file deletion
  and support for bzip2);
  
  
• mysqldump now uses --result-file (check your version
  of mysqldump!);
  
  
• the script can now be run from the web, with password
  protection;
  
  
• the script now works on both Linux and Windows (including
  email and ftp functions);
  
  
• fixed a much requested bug with the parsing of whereis
  output;
  
  
• added a significant amount of error checking;
  
  
• cleaned up the reporting method;
  
  
• rewrote the subroutine that deletes text files;
  
  
• added a switch to disable reporting to stdout;
  
  
• created a method for selecting method of output (screen,
  email or both) for all print commands;
  
  
• many other small fixes and features. (see History Notes
  and comments in file).
  

Additional Features

• saves backup files, then has option to email file and/or
  ftp file to remote server
  
  
• supports large sets of databases and tables (tested with
  over 3,000 tables)
  
  
• uses .cnf files, or user/password in the file, or web
  login
  
  
• removes old files, based on time criteria
  
  
• backup can be done with mysqldump, select into outfile,
  or sql select (some may not have permission for select into
  outfile, and some don't have access to mysqldump