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Managing Databases with Command Line SSH

Last modified: July 2, 2022
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Managing Databases with Command Line SSH

SSH can be a better tool for managing the databases and files on your account. You can import or export a MySQL database into an existing database on your account with a straightforward command.

Please be aware that the -p will ask you for your account password in the instances below. Moreover, your username must be included in the name of your database, for example, examplec database.

Exporting MySQL Data

This example shows you how to export a database. It is a good idea to export your data often as a backup.

  1. Using SSH, execute the following command:
    mysqldump -p -u username database_name > dbname.sql 
  2. When prompted for a password, enter the username’s password and hit Enter. Substitute your MySQL login information for username, password, and database name.

The file dbname.sql now holds a backup of your database and is ready for download to your computer.

To export a single table from your database you would use the following command:

mysqldump -p --user=username database_name tableName > tableName.sql

Again you would need to replace the username, database and tableName with the correct information.

Once done the table specified would then be saved to your account as tableName.sql

Import A MySQL Database

The file must be in .sql format. It cannot be compressed in a .zip or .tar.gz file.
    1. Start by uploading the .sql file onto the server.
    2. If you haven’t already done so, create the MySQL database via the cPanel.
    3. Using SSH, navigate to the directory where your .sql file is.
    4. Next, run this command:
 mysql -p -u username database_name < file.sql 
    1. Lastly, to import a single table into an existing database you would use the following command:
mysql -u username -p -D database_name < tableName.sql
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