Database back up question
 

For 5 years now I have always backed up my database via the admin CP (I realize that may have not be the smartest way to do it but I have done it anyways). However, on my last backup I noticed it took way longer to download the database (may be due to my internet connection) and when I opened up the SQL file in Notepad (which I ALWAYS do after every backup to make sure it says "Database dump completed" at the end) it didn't say that and the last line was normal code from database.

So I looked around and stumbled upon the error logs in my server control panel and it showed this:

Quote:
[Mon Nov 12 13:25:42 2012] [error] [client IP ADDRESS] Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 126617601 bytes) in /home/serveraccount/public_html/myaccount/includes/adminfunctions_backup.php on line 81, referer: http://www.myurl.com/admincp/backup.php?do=choose

Was this a case of my internet connection being too slow and it just timed out? It seemed like it would download 2 MB every 5-10 seconds or so. Note I have never had a problem like this before.

I do know about backing up via SSH and will start doing so... I am just curious as to why I suddenly can't backup via the admin CP.

FYI my database is showing roughly 166 MB in size when done via the admin CP and a newer backup at 135 MB when does via SSH.

That brings another question: If you backup via the admincp is the db backup size normally larger than when done via SSH? I don't know why the size would be smaller (back up today) than ~3 weeks ago. I haven't pruned any threads or data.