docs/content/getting-started/mysql-backup.md

title, description, section, order

title	description	section	order
Back Up and Restore a MySQL Database	How to export and import MySQL databases on Arcline shared hosting using phpMyAdmin and the command line.	getting-started	3

Back Up and Restore a MySQL Database

Regular database backups are the most important thing you can do to protect your site. A file backup without a database backup is useless for dynamic sites like WordPress.

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Export via phpMyAdmin (easiest)

phpMyAdmin is available in cPanel → Databases → phpMyAdmin.

1. In the left sidebar, click the database name you want to export.
2. Click the Export tab at the top.
3. Leave the method as Quick and format as SQL.
4. Click Go.

The browser will download a .sql file. Store it somewhere safe — not on the same server.

For large databases (over 50 MB), use the Custom export method and enable Add DROP TABLE so the import won't fail on existing tables.

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Export via command line (mysqldump)

SSH into your server and run:

mysqldump -u username -p database_name > backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

You'll be prompted for the MySQL password. On cPanel servers, the MySQL username is prefixed with your cPanel username:

mysqldump -u cpanelusername_dbusername -p cpanelusername_dbname > backup.sql

Check your cPanel → Databases → MySQL Databases for the exact username and database name.

To compress the backup immediately:

mysqldump -u username -p database_name | gzip > backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql.gz

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Download your backup via SFTP

After exporting from the command line, download the .sql or .sql.gz file to your local machine using FileZilla or Cyberduck (see Upload Files via SFTP).

The file will be in your home directory: /home/username/backup.sql.

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Import a database

phpMyAdmin

1. In cPanel → phpMyAdmin, click the target database in the left sidebar.
2. Click the Import tab.
3. Click Choose File and select your .sql file.
4. Click Go.

phpMyAdmin has a file size limit (usually 50–100 MB). For larger databases, use the command line.

Command line import

mysql -u username -p database_name < backup.sql

For a compressed backup:

gunzip < backup.sql.gz | mysql -u username -p database_name

Make sure the target database already exists in cPanel before importing. Create it in cPanel → Databases → MySQL Databases if needed, and make sure the database user is assigned to it with all privileges.

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Automate daily backups with cron

SSH in and open your crontab:

crontab -e

Add this line to run a backup every day at 2 AM:

0 2 * * * mysqldump -u cpanelusername_dbuser -pYOURPASSWORD cpanelusername_dbname | gzip > ~/backups/db_$(date +\%Y\%m\%d).sql.gz

A few notes:

• Replace YOURPASSWORD with your actual MySQL password (no space after -p)
• ~/backups/ must exist: mkdir ~/backups
• The \% escaping is required in crontab

Also set up a cron to delete backups older than 30 days to avoid filling up disk space:

30 2 * * * find ~/backups -name "*.sql.gz" -mtime +30 -delete

cPanel also has a built-in cron interface under Advanced → Cron Jobs if you prefer a GUI.

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cPanel full backup

For a complete backup of files and databases together, use cPanel → Files → Backup Wizard. Choose Back Up Your Website and download the full backup. These can be large — only practical for occasional snapshots, not daily automation.