Backup /var/lib/mysql are good idea?
 

Hello. I have MySQL server, where in databases are many polish letters, and sometimes when we must move database, or repair it from backup polish letters lost.

So my question it's: backup MySQL by tar /var/lib/mysql are good idea? When i must rebuild databases i wont' lost polish letters? I know that when i load backup MySQL versions must be the same.

Sorry for my english.

It's bad idea. You can get not consistent backup. To get a consistent backup you should stop the server or do a LOCK TABLES on the relevant tables.
Making Backups with mysqldump or mysqlhotcopy is better idea.
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/...p-methods.html

Thanks for reply. Last time i have to import mysql from backup (it do every day from command: mysqldump -h localhost -u root -ppass database --compatible=mysql40 | gzip > /database.sql.gz), but i don't have polish letters (instead polish letter was "?") - backup file already didn't have polish letters, so after import too.

So what i have to do, to create 100% good backup?

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the option --compatible=mysql40 may break your charset.