Backup Agents and Tools Raw: Tips Using mysqlhotcopy

Use --allowold to move the old backup out of the way (instead of overwriting) until the new backup is verified good.
Use --keepold to keep the previous backup after current one succeeds. Backup DB directories receive the _old suffix.
To skip the backing up the full index files (.MYI), use the --noindices option.
If running binary logs, use the --flushlog option to flush them after the tables are locked.
For automating password-less and secure network backup/downloads, set up ssh key based authentication.*
* For detailed directions on setting up key based ssh authentication, just google for +ssh-keygen +bsdcow.

Use --allowold to move the old backup out of the way (instead of overwriting) until the new backup is verified good.