Use:
mysqldump -u admin -p database1 > /backup/db/database1.sql
or
mysqldump -u admin -p --all-databases > /backup/db/all_databases.sql
If you have only MyISAM tables you can use:
mysqlhotcopy -u admin -p password123 database1 /backup
for faster backups. mysqlhotcopy doesn't generating sql but copying the files of the database.
For recovery of mysqldumped databases use:
mysql -u admin -p database1 < database.sql
or
mysql -u admin -p <all_databases.sql
For mysqlhotcopy:
To restore the backup from the mysqlhotcopy backup, simply copy the files from the backup directory to the /var/lib/mysql/{db-name} directory. Just to be on the safe-side, make sure to stop the mysql before you restore (copy) the files. After you copy the files to the /var/lib/mysql/{db-name} start the mysql again.
See here: http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/07/backup-and-restore-mysql-database-using-mysqlhotcopy/