discussion Guide Linux How to Import/Export a MySQL Database via SSH

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How to Import/Export a MySQL Database via SSH 💾​

When working with large databases (typically 128 MB or more), managing them via SSH is a faster and more reliable method. If you need help setting up an SSH connection, feel free to check out our related guides: Download PuTTY

In this guide, I’ll explain step-by-step how to export and import a MySQL database via SSH. Don’t forget to replace the variables in the commands below with your own information:

• USERNAME: Your MySQL username.
• DATABASE: The name of your MySQL database.

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Exporting a MySQL Database​

To export a MySQL database, we use the mysqldump command. Here’s the full command you’ll need:

mysqldump -u USERNAME -p DATABASE > backup.sql

After running this command, you’ll be prompted to enter a password — this is the password for your MySQL user. Once entered, the database will be exported to a file named “backup.sql” in your current directory.

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Importing a MySQL Database​

To import a MySQL database, the mysql command is used. Here is the full command for that process:

mysql -u USERNAME -p DATABASE < backup.sql

Again, after executing the command, you’ll be asked to enter your MySQL user password.

The backup.sql part of the command refers to the file you want to import into your database. Make sure that file exists in the directory where you run the command.

 

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With this method, you can quickly perform database backup and migration operations via SSH.