Hi, I'm about to upgrade to 4.3 beta but it's been so long that I don't remember how to backup the database before proceeding.  Can't find it in the guides.  Can someone help?

Thanks!

You won't find it any guides on here because it's independent of the IPS software.

What is your hosting panel? What options do you have there to do backups? Do you have phpmyadmin?

Google is your friend.

 

I'm about to upgrade to 4.3 beta

Remember - it's beta, it's going to have bugs. I'd highly suggest you wait to final until taking the plunge, unless you are very comfortable with the potential lack of support from people on here for issues.

There used to be tools within the ACP to do the backup.  I can use phpmyadmin to do it but was wondering why no longer available from the ACP.

 

but was wondering why no longer available from the ACP

Because it was simply re-inventing the wheel....there are other more efficient ways of taking backups of the SQL database, as mentioned.

And backup your files too.

Got it.  When you say backup your files, you mean the manually edited template bits?

No, I mean your files that are on your website (ie the IPS software and anything you've uploaded via the software)

They probably removed the backup from the admin cp because php isn't a reliable way for making database backups as they fail. The best way is through SSH. I know years ago phpmyadmin wasn't reliable for making a database backup. Has phpmyadmin improved upon this?