To restore a MySQL database from a mysqldump file, follow these steps:
1. Prerequisites
Ensure you have access to the database server and proper permissions.
Have the mysqldump file ready (e.g., backup.sql).
2. Restore the Database
The general command to restore a MySQL database from a dump file is:
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mysql -u username -p database_name < backup.sql
Explanation:
mysql: The MySQL client command-line tool.
-u username: Specifies the MySQL username.
-p: Prompts for the password.
database_name: The name of the database you want to restore.
< backup.sql: Redirects the content of the backup.sql file to MySQL.
Example:
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mysql -u root -p my_database < backup.sql
3. Create the Database if Necessary
If the database does not exist yet, create it before restoring:
Log into MySQL:
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mysql -u username -p
Create the database:
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CREATE DATABASE my_database;
Exit MySQL and run the restore command:
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mysql -u username -p my_database < backup.sql
4. Restore All Databases
If the dump file contains multiple databases (created using mysqldump –all-databases), restore them all:
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mysql -u username -p < backup.sql
5. Common Issues
Access Denied: Ensure the username has sufficient privileges to restore the database.
Duplicate Entries: If the database already contains data, you might see errors. Drop the existing database before restoring:
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DROP DATABASE my_database;
CREATE DATABASE my_database;
6. Additional Options
If your dump file is compressed (e.g., backup.sql.gz), decompress it before restoring:
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gunzip backup.sql.gz
mysql -u username -p database_name < backup.sql
If you need verbose output during the restore, use the –verbose option:
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mysql -u username -p database_name –verbose < backup.sql
By following these steps, you can successfully restore a MySQL database from a dump file.