opions on best way to backup

What is the best way to back several mysql db's, so if there is a problem a restore could be done easily.

Thanks

mysqldump or mysqlhotcopy would work.

Do you back up to a tape drive?

Thanks

you could. or you could back up to a RAID or hard copy on CD-ROM or whatever you choose to store your back-up. the point is you need a back-up and a way to retrieve it.