Exporting and Importing Database Dumps in Plesk 12.5

Exporting and Importing Database Dumps

A database dump is a file containing a database structure and content. You can use it for backup purposes. In earlier Plesk versions, dumps could be created only using database management tools. Now Plesk offers a quicker way to create database dumps, store them, and deploy previously created dumps on the server.

In Plesk, to export a database dump means to save a source database in a file which can be used for storage or distribution. To import a database dump means to restore data from the file to a destination database. You can import a database to the same or another database server. The only restriction is that the destination database should be of the same type, for example, MySQL.

In Plesk, database dumps are created in the SQL format and saved as ZIP archives. If you need to create a dump in another format or to set custom settings for a dump, use the native functionality of database management tools (phpMyAdmin, phpPgAdmin, or myLittleAdmin). For the instructions on how to perform import and export with database management tools, refer to the tools’ built-in help sections.

To save a copy of a database:

1. Go to Websites & Domains > Databases > Export Dump in the database tools pane.
2. To save a dump in a certain directory on the Plesk server, select the directory. The home directory of the selected subscription is used by default.
3. To save the dump on your local computer as well as on the server, select Automatically download dump after creation.

To deploy your copy of a database in Plesk:

1. Go to Websites & Domains > Databases > Import Dump in the database tools pane.
2. To choose a dump from your local computer, select Upload and click Browse. Then select a ZIP archive with the dump file.
3. To choose a dump from a directory on the server, select Import and select a file of the dump.
4. To deploy the dump into a newly created database, select Recreate the database. The old database will be deleted and a new one, with the same name, created.

Note: Alternatively, you can back up a database as part of a subscription during the subscription backup and then restore it separately. See the Backing Up and Recovering Websites section for details.