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How to backup and restore a MySQL database on Windows and Linux

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Why backup and restore

This is a quick guide demonstrating how you can backup and restore a MySQL database on Windows and Linux using Adminer.

You may need to know how to backup a restore a database for a number of reasons..

e.g

  • Send the database to someone to debug or give feedback while learning.
  • Move the database from a local machine to the cloud
  • Move the database from cloud vendor A to cloud vendor B
  • etc.

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Having a backup of the VM is good but having a backup of the database too is better. I use UpCloud for hosting my VM’s and setting backups is easy. But I cannot download those backups.

UpCloud Backup Screen

Murphy’s Law

“If anything can go wrong, it will”

The most important reason for taking a backup and knowing how to restore it is for disaster recovery reasons.

Backup (the easiest way) with Adminer

Adminer is a free PHP based IDE for MySQL and other databases. Simply install Adminer and save the file on your local computer or remote web server directory.

FYI: The Adminer author Jakub Vrana has a patron page, I am a patron of this awesome software.

Snip from Adminers website. “Adminer (formerly phpMinAdmin) is a full-featured database management tool written in PHP. Conversely to phpMyAdmin, it consist of a single file ready to deploy to the target server. Adminer is available for MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MS SQL, Oracle, Firebird, SimpleDB, Elasticsearch andMongoDB.”

adminer.php file icon screenshot

TIP: The file would be publicly accessible to anyone so don’t save it to a common area, obfuscate the file, protect it of delete the file when you are done using it.

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Once Adminer is installed load it in a web browser, login with your MySQL credentials. Once you login you will see all databases and an Import and Export menu.

Adminer main screen, all databases and import and export menu.

tbtest is a simple database with one table and 4 fields (ID, Key, Value and Modified)

.Click Export to open the export screen.

Export screen showing a list of databases and export options

Click Export, a SQL file will be generated (this is the export of the database).

Here is a save of the file:
https://fearby.com/wp-content/uploads/export.txt

Exported view of https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb-admin-export-import-management.html

Its that simple.

If I add a binary blob file to the table and upload a PNG file lets see how the export looks.

Screenshot o the new table with a blog field in Adminer UI

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Let export the database again in Adminer and check out the output. I used Sublime Text editor to view the export file.

New Export shows the binary file in the Backup SQL file

Restore (the easiest way) with Adminer

OK lets delete the tbtest database and then restore it with Adminer. I used Adminer to delete (DROP) the database.

Database dropped with Adminer

Database “dbtest” deleted.

Now lets create a blank database to restore to (same name).

Create database screen.

Database created.

dbtest created.

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Now lets import the database backup using Adminer.

Click Import, select the backup file and un-tick Stop on errors.

Import screenshot, dxtest selectded, Restore file selected, stop on errors disabled

TIP: The 2MB next the the choose file button is defined by your web server and PHP configuration. If you are trying to import a larger database (e.g 80MB) first increase the limits in your web server and PHP (via php.ini).

The Import (restore should take seconds)

Import Success

The database was imported from a backup, all tables and records imported just fine.

The database was imported from a backup

Bonus methods.

On Ubuntu use this guide to backup from the command line. If you use the Oracle MySQL Workbench read this.

I hope this helps someone.

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Open a Windows 10 Boot Camp Installation on OSX in Parallels (like a VM)

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This guide will show you how you can open a Windows 10 Boot Camp Installation on OSX in Parallels (like a VM).

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Installing Parallels on a Mac allows you to install Windows in A VM, this is handy but you may want to install Windows on a Mac drive with Boot camp (guide here)  for better performance.

Can you load this VM-less Windows install in OSX rather than reboot it, the answer is YES (with Parallels v13).

Setup your Windows Bootcamps (see my guide here).

Create a new VM image in Parallels (Select Boot Camp)

New Image

Click Continue

Use Windows Bootcamp

Confirm the reaction warning.

Before You Proceed

Name the VM and choose a location

Location

Set desired memory etc.

Choose your desired clipboard and disk access settings.

Options

Done, now Parallels will prepare your VM (Really Boot Camp)

Created

Preparing

Creating VM

Parallel tools will be automatically installed.

Configuring

Done, you will now be able to load your Apple Bootcamp partition as it is was a VM inside OSX (or boot it)

Windows

yes, the VM file is pointing to the Boot Camp partition.

VM File

I hope this guide helps someone.

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Revision History

v1.0 Initial post

Ubuntu Desktop OS for Developers

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Did you know you can download and install a free operating system (free Windows Alternative) from https://www.ubuntu.com/ and use it on your own computer or as a virtual machine?

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Ubuntu is a common operating system on cloud providers AWS or Digital Ocean so cloud server installation so installing it locally is a good idea if you are a developer.

Go to https://www.ubuntu.com/ and click Desktop for Developers menu item.

Then click the Download Button next to Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS.

Choose your donation amount (set nothing if you have donated before or cannot afford it).

Click the take me to the download link.

Wait for the download to start or click download now.

 

The download is  1.4Gb in size and may take a while. The file format is an ISO format (an ISO is a copy of a CD, burn it with your favourite CD-Burning package).  Burnt ISO CD’s are bootable.

You can either boot and install Ubuntu alongside your existing operating system in a  virtual environment on Mac OS with Parallels or VirtualBox on Windows. Warning you accidentally can delete your existing operating system and files if you are not sure that you are doing.

I decided to run Ubuntu on my Mac inside Parallels as a virtual machine (this used 5GB space and 1GB memory and 2x CPU’s).

Once I setup Ubuntu it booted up and I was presented with a login screen.

I had a link to a FileManager and Control panel on the left. Help for Ubuntu can he found here https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/

The Ubuntu desktop has a Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Presentation package.

Installing NodeJS and other development software (Skip if you are not a  developer).

I installed nodeJS by following the instructions here

You can test the development tools by typing

You can install other development software (NGINX, MySQL etc) by reading my guide here.

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Version 1.0 Instal Blog Post