Create a Magento database backup

magento_database_backup.php

<?php
  /******************************************************************************************************************
   * Source: http://www.emvee-solutions.com/blog/magento-create-database-backup-php-code/
   * 
   * Creating a Magento database backup in var/backups
   ******************************************************************************************************************/
  
  //increase execution time
  ini_set('max_execution_time', 900); //900 seconds = 15 minutes
   
  //require Magento
  require_once 'app/Mage.php';  
  $app = Mage::app('admin');  
  umask(0);  
   
  //set error reporting
  error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);
  Mage::setIsDeveloperMode(true);
   
  //do backup
  try {
        $backupDbHelper = Mage::getModel('backup/db');
        //create backup instance, set certain options
        $backup   = Mage::getModel('backup/backup')
              ->setTime(time())
              ->setType('db')
              ->setPath(Mage::getBaseDir("var") . DS . "backups");
        //do actual backup
        $backupDbHelper->createBackup($backup);
        //return success
        print 'Backup successfully created';

?>