On 23/04/2010 15:51, Jerry wrote:
There are numerous ways to export/backup a live MySQL database. I have employed several of them myself. You might want to check out this URL for starters:
http://www.noupe.com/how-tos/10-ways-to-automatically-manually-backup-mysql-...
Your statement that the only safe way to backup/export an SQL database is to stop it, etc is totally incorrect. No offense, but I question your knowledge of SQL, and MySQL in particular.
Err to be fair, I was about to reply and say that it's IS achievable, but on the flip side I would concede that it does require a bit of thought to make this stuff work correctly. I think you are being a bit harsh to suggest it's *that* simple to make an automated push work reliably?
So in summary, it IS possible, but yes it does need a bit of thought, fair enough.
I am somewhat perplex by you insinuation that the end users of this database system you are designing are total novices. Depending on the table:type you choose, you may very well have to invoke 'postmap' and perhaps 'postaliase' on them to make them usable by Postfix. If your intended audience is so incompetent that they cannot handle a simple SQL database, how do you expect them to handle the intricacies of getting this database you are designing serviceable?
It is my own opinion; however, I think you are basing your decision on a fear of SQL more than on simplifying the final database decision. A simple SQL would greatly simplify maintenance and security. Then again, you are going to be the one who takes the heat if this blows up in your face.
The OP has noted (offlist) some extra facts. Basically he has an upstream setup which will generate all the files - these will then be pushed down to the remote sites in an automated fashion, therefore there will be no editing of the local files. The situation is simply a case of finding the most efficient way to push the static data down to the remote sites
From that point of view I still think a DB is a useful option, but the text/BDB options are also much more sensible
Cheers
Ed W