gistfile1.txt

    p = subprocess.Popen(["mysqldump", "--single-transaction", "-u",
        database_username, "--password="+database_password, "--databases", 
        "--host", server_address, database_name, ], 
        stdout = open( outputfile, 'w') , stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
    error = p.stderr.read()
    p_ret = p.wait()
    print "return code from mysqldump: " + str(p_ret)

    if (len(error)) > 0:
        action_error(error)
        sys.exit(-1)

    if (compress == "1"):
        p2 = subprocess.Popen(["tar", "-C", backup_destination, 
        "--remove-files", "--force-local", "-czf", gzipoutputfile,
           mysqlfilename ], stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
        error2 = p2.stderr.read()
        p2.wait()
        if (len(error2)) > 0:
            action_error(error2)
            sys.exit(-1)

    action_success()