Backing up an ISPConfig server for OS reinstall

Hello I have a Ubuntu Breezy (I think) server which I have recently upgraded to Dapper (that wasn't easy). And I have been trying to use tightvnc so I can access the servers gui (installed gnome) without a user needing to be logged in at the console and now X (gnome? gdm?) won't start at all. So I was thinking with the new release of Hardy Heron 8.04LTS that I would backup all of the files needed by ISPConfig and then make a fresh install of Ubuntu and install all the new server packages and the new ISPConfig. The problem I have is that I know I need to backup:
/var/www (I remember reading something about needing the -p option when tarring this dir but I don't remember the whole command)
.shadow
.passwd

mysql dumps and more but if someone could give me a full list of directories, files and commands then I would be extremely grateful (I am not a very experienced command line user that is why I ask for the commands as well as the other info).

Also it's 12:50AM here so if I have omitted any necessary info please ask and I will try to get it for you.

Thank you in advance.

 

Have a look here: http://www.howtoforge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2717

 

Ok thanks I had seen that topic before but I was a little unsure as to where all the files without paths were but I believe I have found them now with some help from my second ispconfig server.

About the mysql dump, will this command:

Code:

mysqldump -h localhost -u [MySQL user, e.g. root] -p[database password] -c --add-drop-table --add-locks --all --quick --lock-tables [name of the database] > sqldump.sql

backup everything for ispconfig or do I need to run it for every database on the server? I would like to know because it says "[name of the database]".

 

You need to run it for each database.

 

Thank you, will the database users be preserved?(Probably a silly question but I just want to confirm)

 

No.They are stored in a different database (mysql) in a table called "user".

 

That would be db_ispconfig -> isp_isp_datenbank right? I see users and hashed passwords there, so with all of the databases backed up and all of the files in the linked post above backed up I shoul be able to safely re-install ubuntu right?

 

This is not enough because on a fresh installation of MySQL there will be only root user without users of databases that were created by ISPConfig.

 

Hmm, that makes sense, so where are the files I need to backup for the mysql users?

 

It's the "mysql" database within the MySQL database.

 

The database named 'mysql' right? Then I was correct in backing up all of the databases.

If thats everything then I guess I'm ready to re-install. I do hope I haven't been to annoying.

 

Yes, that's right.