====== manual backup ======

(run as sudo)

 - local backup

<code>rsync -azvv  --exclude /var/log /etc /home /opt /var  /pathtofolderwherebackupisstored</code>

 - remote backup

<code>rsync -azvv -e ssh /foldertobackup remoteuser@remotehost.remotedomain:/wheretostorebackup

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/rsync

to backup mysql database, it is enough to: 

 - stop mysql server

<code>/etc/init.d/mysql stop</code>

 - backup the contents of the /var/lib/mysql folder

<code>rsync -azvv /var/lib/mysql /somewhere</code>

 - backup the database(s)

<code>mysqldump -u root -ptmppassword --all-databases > /tmp/all-database.sql</code>
source {{http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/09/backup-and-restore-mysql-database-using-mysqldump/|here}}
====== automated backup ======

(as sudo) run crontab:

<code>crontab -e</code>

edit the file, so that cronjob will run the command each 1st of the month, at 20:45

<code>45 20 1 * *  rsync -azvv  --exclude /var/log /etc /home /opt /var  /srv/mis_duplicate/backingup</code>

and backup the server (only folders /etc, /home, /opt, /var) to an external disk

> cron format: http://www.nncron.ru/help/EN/working/cron-format.htm

more: 

http://rbgeek.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/automatic-backup-from-ubuntu-server-with-rsync/