--On Tuesday, April 15, 2003 12:42:01 -0400 Chad Morland <chad.morland AT inquent 
DOT com> wrote:

I was wondering if it is safe to do a filesystem dump using the dump
command on running databases such as postfix and mysql? Thanks.

-CM

Depends on what you mean by "safe".  Nothing bad should happen from running
the dump, except possibly slowing down the database.  However, the resulting
dump image would most likely be useless in restoring the database.
  Generally, you either need to shut down the database and then do the dump,
or export all the data from the database to file(s) and back them up.

Frank

--
Frank Smith                                             fsmith AT hoovers DOT 
com
Systems Administrator                                  Voice: 512-374-4673
Hoover's Online                                          Fax: 512-374-4501