Help understanding webserver/mysql?

[oguruma]

I am trying to learn about webservers, specifically for hosting websites using Wordpress CMS. I could use some help checking my understanding on point 1. and some explanation of question 2.

1. The contents that make up the Wordpress site consist of everything in the /public_html folder and the database. For a typical Wordpress install, all of the themes, plugins, media uploads, etc are in that folder. It would typically be, in a Linux environment, /var/www/html/mywebsite.com/public_html. Is that accurate?

2. I understand that for Wordpress, the users, posts and pages are in the database. Now, what I don't understand is: is there just one database that contains all of this information in various tables?

So, for backing up a Wordpress site, all I need is (other than a compatible server with the right modules) the contents of the /public_html folder and that database? Backing up the contents of public_html is easy enough. But why can't a database be backed up this way? Could I theoretically RSYNC/FTP the database to where I need it? Or is there something about a MySQL database that makes it more complicated than that?

 

[danb35]

But why can't a database be backed up this way?

A database can be pretty easily backed up using the mysqldump command. But trying to just copy the relevant files from the filesystem is a good way to get yourself a corrupt database.

 

[oguruma]

A database can be pretty easily backed up using the mysqldump command. But trying to just copy the relevant files from the filesystem is a good way to get yourself a corrupt database.

Thanks for the input. Why is it that a mysql database acts differently than, say a jpeg in terms of its portability?

 

[danb35]

Because a .jpg typically isn't open in 15 different places at once, all trying to modify it at the same time.

 

[Jailer]

Like @danb35 said you dump the database and backup the database dump. The entire backup process can be accomplished and automated with scripts set up to run via cron tasks.