How to make a copy of a Database

[knickerlas]

Hi
How can I make an exact copy including all tables and their content of a db?

Is there a function I'm missing or will I have to create another DB and copy the tables into it?

Cheers

Nick

[knickerlas]

.

[toma42]

copy the directory for the db. That's all...it may not work against different OS's, but under the same OS it will.

[[deleted]]

yes it works, and yes the MySQL manual offers it as a solution, and NO it's not best practice.

For one, you must shutdown the mysql server before you copy the files.
(unless you are feeling lucky).

It is far better to use mysqldump to create a copy of the databaser in SQL statements and import that back into a new database.

Added bonus: this also works through the mysql commandline tool,
so you can make remote copies using only mysql. No ftp, no NFS, just mysql.

[knickerlas]

Thanks guys, I'm still none the wiser though.

I'm trying to find the simplest and safest way to copy a DB, work on its content and then replace the original with the copy.

There was a long discussion on this recently but I'm still stuck for a solution.

All I need is to be able to work on a 'trashable' copy of my sites content DB and then use it as the original if I'm happy with it.

Any directions greatly appreciated as I'm hopelessy lost!

Cheers

Nick

[Anon]

This might not affect you, but maybe others. I wouldn't try it on very different versions of MySQL.

I have a copy of an old mysql database (2 years) I inherited and tried just copying it over to a MySQL 3.23.37 -- doesn't work.

...at least from my experience.

[Anon]

Please help me how to make a copy of a SQL Server Database. Do I have to create a new Database and copy all the objects(tables,views,etc.) from the source database to my new database? How? Please help me... How do i code it in Visual basic? Any idea will be greatly appreciated. Thanks...