If you're having database backup issues and are using mysql on a *nix, you can do what I'm doing.
Requirements:
ssh access to your database server
vi editing skills
the script:
automysqlbackup.2.5.sh (google it)
Edit the script to your liking, be sure to read it all through until you reach the actual execution part!
Try it, verify that the backups are there...
Make sure it's executed by cron every night, preferably have the files copied onto another machine.
All done...
Happy backupping!