Please let me know what is the better method of taking backups of MySQl databases: mysqldump or linux tar.gz form or any other ? and why?
mysqldump is the most secure way to back up a mysql database.
thank u very much, Troels, Please also let me know why it is the most secure way.
Safety is not the primary reason why mysqldump i the best way to backup a database. The primary reason is that mysqldump doesn't require you to shut down the mysql daemon while making the backup.
See also http://www.mysql.com/documentation/mysql/bychapter/manual_Common_problems.html#Backup
