MySQL databases + shopping cart

[BK123]

Hi all,
I'm finally going to drag my business in the 21st and sell online.
I know html and can edit the html in the php files of the shopping cart to alter the layout.
My hosting package allows for a free ecommerce shopping cart:Miva Merchant 4.24.

My question is (as I don't know anything about MySQL/databases) what do I need to be concerned with, with MySQL for my ecommerce site.
It's automatically set up but 1) are the customers account/cc details stored on these databases? 2) Do i need to have a back up copy of them? 3) Is there anything I need to be aware of regarding security/hackers etc? 4) Anything else you can think ?

Hope this makes sense. Sorry for my ignorance!:o

BK123

[Shoot2Kill]

1) Yes, I'm 99% sure your customer records will be stored on this database...

2) a regular back-up is very wise... your customers wont be happy if you lose their order or have to register again...

3) i am not too sure of this, but i think using a reputable web host that has these measures in place is the safest option

[BK123]

1) Yes, I'm 99% sure your customer records will be stored on this database...

2) a regular back-up is very wise... your customers wont be happy if you lose their order or have to register again...

3) i am not too sure of this, but i think using a reputable web host that has these measures in place is the safest option

Thanks shoot2kill for that!
Just gotta learn how to back-up now!:(
I use www.westhost.com A class act in my book!:thumbsup:

Thanks again!
BK123

[guelphdad]

look into using mysqldump or mysqlhotcopy to back up your database. you need to do those from the shell so if you don't have shell access you will need to run them as a cron

[BK123]

look into using mysqldump or mysqlhotcopy to back up your database. you need to do those from the shell so if you don't have shell access you will need to run them as a cron

Hi guelphdad, I don't know what that means!:eek:
I only know HTML.
Am I in too deep to try and learn how to back up the databases, considering my knowledge?
Do I need to learn MySQL or can I back-up them without learning the whole MySQL language or just a minimal amount?

BK123

[guelphdad]

your database is on a web server. sometimes you will not have shell access but only use something like cpanel to manage your host. if that is the case you may be able to set up a cron job in linux/unix to take care of the backup. though it might not be possible to do that.

if you have access to a shell (i.e. telnet access to your host should give you shell access) then you would run one of mysqldump or mysqlhotcopy and those will give you backup of your data.

mysqldump comes with the mysql installation, you can use it to dump your entire database with a single line of code. I don't have expereince using mysqlhotcopy, the primary difference between them being you don't have to stop your database using mysqlhotcopy. You don't have to stop it using mysqldump but it is possible users may make changes to the database before you get the backup done and then you could be missing records.

it might be best to pay someone to set up this part of the site for you as backups will be crucial to the maintenance of your site.

[BK123]

Thanks for your advice guelphdad!
I'm the only user for my website.
I'll have to see if I have shell access.
I've bought a book on MySQL, maybe I can learn how to do the back-ups with it. I'd prefer not to get someone else if I don't have to but if I do then I do!

Thanks again!

BK123

[BK123]

Just looked at my hosting package:
I do have Secure Shell (SSH) + Backup and restore facility.
It's the "Business Plan" package with www.westhost.com

Any chance of you having a quick look at the package and see how I should try to back-up the databases?

Thanks again!

[guelphdad]

You should back up your database using one of MYSQLDUMP or MYSQLHOTCOPY as suggested above. Check out the mysql manual to see how to use either to back up your data.