@daily  /bin/bash /home/backup/scripts/db_backup

#!/bin/bash

# Sets the properties and folders to be backed up
host_name=admin@the_host.com
db_name=the_db_name
db_backup_folder_at_host="~/db_backup"

# Dumps the mysql database
{ # Try
    ssh ${host_name} "mysqldump ${db_name} > ${db_backup_folder_at_host}/backup$(date +%F_%R).sql" &&
    echo "$(date) SUCCESS! mysqldump of database"
} || { # Catch
    echo "$(date) FAILURE! mysqldump of database"
}

[mysqldump]
user=USERNAME
password=PASSWORD
host=MYSQLSERVER

0 0 * * *   /bin/bash /home/backup/scripts/db_backup

# m h dom mon dow user  command
17 *    * * *   root    cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly
25 6    * * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily )
47 6    * * 7   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly )
52 6    1 * *   root    test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly )
#