======================
 Making a Full Backup
======================

   Backup the InnoDB data and log files - located in ``/var/lib/mysql/`` - to ``/data/backups/mysql/`` (destination). Then, prepare the backup files to be ready to restore or use (make the data files consistent).

Make a backup:
==============
::

  xtrabackup --backup --target-dir=/data/backups/mysql/

Prepare the backup twice:
=========================
::

  xtrabackup --prepare --target-dir=/data/backups/mysql/
  xtrabackup --prepare --target-dir=/data/backups/mysql/

Success Criterion
=================

*  The exit status of xtrabackup is 0.

*  In the second :option:`--prepare` step, you should see InnoDB print messages similar to ``Log file ./ib_logfile0 did not exist: new to be created``, followed by a line indicating the log file was created (creating new logs is the purpose of the second preparation).

Notes
=====

*  You might want to set the :option:`--use-memory` option to something similar to the size of your buffer pool, if you are on a dedicated server that has enough free memory. More details  :doc:`here <../xtrabackup_bin/xbk_option_reference>`.

* A more detailed explanation is :doc:`here <../xtrabackup_bin/creating_a_backup>`