Most managed hosting accounts include automatic backup of files and databases, but it is good database management practice to also make regular backups of your database manually just in case. This task can be accomplished easily using PHPMyadmin in cPanel and the database backup can be saved to your hard drive to be restored later if necessary.
- Logon to your cPanel and open PHPMyadmin.
- In the left-hand column choose the database you want to backup.
- In the page that opens will be a list of all the tables in that database. Click on the Export tab at the top.
- Look in the Export column of the page that opens and make sure all of the tables are selected. If not, simply click "Select All" and the tables should now be highlighted.
- In the same Export column make certain the SQL button is selected.
- To the right of the Export column check the Structure box and under that section make sure the "Add AUTO_INCREMENT value" is selected along with "Enclose table and field names with backquotes". Additionally, if this database is a Wordpress blog, make certain that the "Add DROP TABLE/VIEW/PROCEDURE/FUNTION/EVENT" checkbox is selected.
- Check the Data box in the next section, and make sure "Complete inserts" and "Extended inserts" are selected, as well as "Use hexadecimal for BLOB Export type".
- Check the "Save as file" box and choose "None" for Compression unless your database is quite large.
- Click the Go button and you will be prompted to save the file to your computer.
