How to import and export a MySQL database with SSH

What is SSH?

SSH is a safe way to type commands on a remote server. You open it with a program such as Terminal on Mac and Linux, or PowerShell or PuTTY on Windows. Ask Hostvento support whether SSH is on for your plan.

A database holds your site's data. Exporting means saving it into a file. Importing means loading a file back in. The file usually ends in .sql.

Export a database

1. Log in to your server with SSH.
2. Run this command. Replace the names with yours:

   mysqldump -u username -p dbname > backup.sql

   This copies the database named dbname into a file called backup.sql in the current folder.
3. Type your database password when asked. Nothing shows as you type. That is normal.
4. Check the file exists with ls -lh backup.sql. It shows the file and its size.

To make a smaller file, compress it while exporting:

mysqldump -u username -p dbname | gzip > backup.sql.gz

Import a database

First upload your .sql file to the server. You can use File Manager in cPanel or an FTP program. FTP is a way of sending files to a server.

The target database must already exist. If not, create it first in cPanel under MySQL Databases.

Warning: An import can overwrite tables with the same names. Take a backup of the target database first.

1. Log in with SSH and go to the folder holding the file. Use cd foldername.
2. Run:

   mysql -u username -p dbname < backup.sql

   This reads the file and loads it into dbname.
3. Type the password when asked.
4. Wait until the prompt returns. No message usually means success.

For a compressed file:

gunzip < backup.sql.gz | mysql -u username -p dbname

Hit a problem? Open a support ticket.

Quick recap

• Export with mysqldump, and import with mysql.
• The database must exist before you import.
• Remember which way the arrow points.
• Back up before overwriting.