mysqlhotcopy is a Perl script that was
originally written and contributed by Tim Bunce. It uses
FLUSH TABLES,
LOCK TABLES, and
cp or scp to make a
database backup. It is a fast way to make a backup of the
database or single tables, but it can be run only on the same
machine where the database directories are located.
mysqlhotcopy works only for backing up
MyISAM and ARCHIVE tables.
It runs on Unix.
To use mysqlhotcopy, you must have read
access to the files for the tables that you are backing up, the
SELECT privilege for those
tables, the RELOAD privilege (to
be able to execute FLUSH
TABLES), and the LOCK
TABLES privilege (to be able to lock the tables).
shell> mysqlhotcopy db_name [/path/to/new_directory]
shell> mysqlhotcopy db_name_1 ... db_name_n /path/to/new_directory
Back up tables in the given database that match a regular expression:
shell> mysqlhotcopy db_name./regex/
The regular expression for the table name can be negated by
prefixing it with a tilde (“~”):
shell> mysqlhotcopy db_name./~regex/
mysqlhotcopy supports the following options,
which can be specified on the command line or in the
[mysqlhotcopy] and
[client] option file groups.
Table 4.13. mysqlhotcopy Options
| Format | Option File | Description | Introduction | Deprecated | Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --addtodest | addtodest | Do not rename target directory (if it exists); merely add files to it | |||
| --allowold | allowold | Do not abort if a target exists; rename it by adding an _old suffix | |||
| --checkpoint=db_name.tbl_name | checkpoint | Insert checkpoint entries | |||
| --chroot=path | chroot | Base directory of the chroot jail in which mysqld operates | |||
| --debug | debug | Write a debugging log | |||
| --dryrun | dryrun | Report actions without performing them | |||
| --flushlog | flushlog | Flush logs after all tables are locked | |||
| --help | Display help message and exit | ||||
| --host=host_name | host | Connect to the MySQL server on the given host | |||
| --keepold | keepold | Do not delete previous (renamed) target when done | |||
| --noindices | noindices | Do not include full index files in the backup | |||
| --old_server | old_server | Connect to server that does not support FLUSH TABLES tbl_list WITH READ LOCK | 5.5.3 | ||
| --password[=password] | password | The password to use when connecting to the server | |||
| --port=port_num | port | The TCP/IP port number to use for the connection | |||
| --quiet | quiet | Be silent except for errors | |||
| --regexp | regexp | Copy all databases with names that match the given regular expression | |||
| --resetmaster | resetmaster | Reset the binary log after locking all the tables | |||
| --resetslave | resetslave | Reset the master.info file after locking all the tables | |||
| --socket=path | socket | For connections to localhost | |||
| --tmpdir=path | tmpdir | The temporary directory | |||
| --user=user_name, | user | The MySQL user name to use when connecting to the server |
--help,-?Display a help message and exit.
Do not rename target directory (if it exists); merely add files to it.
Do not abort if a target exists; rename it by adding an
_oldsuffix.Insert checkpoint entries into the specified database
db_nameand tabletbl_name.Base directory of the chroot jail in which mysqld operates. The
pathvalue should match that of the--chrootoption given to mysqld.Enable debug output.
--dryrun,-nReport actions without performing them.
Flush logs after all tables are locked.
--host=,host_name-hhost_nameThe host name of the local host to use for making a TCP/IP connection to the local server. By default, the connection is made to
localhostusing a Unix socket file.Do not delete previous (renamed) target when done.
The method for copying files (
cporscp). The default iscp.Do not include full index files for
MyISAMtables in the backup. This makes the backup smaller and faster. The indexes for reloaded tables can be reconstructed later with myisamchk -rq.--password=,password-ppasswordThe password to use when connecting to the server. The password value is not optional for this option, unlike for other MySQL programs.
Specifying a password on the command line should be considered insecure. See Section 5.3.2.2, “End-User Guidelines for Password Security”. You can use an option file to avoid giving the password on the command line.
--port=,port_num-Pport_numThe TCP/IP port number to use when connecting to the local server.
As of MySQL 5.5.3, mysqlhotcopy uses
FLUSH TABLESto flush and lock tables. Use thetbl_listWITH READ LOCK--old_serveroption if the server is older than 5.5.3, which is when that statement was introduced. This option was added in MySQL 5.5.3.--quiet,-qBe silent except for errors.
--record_log_pos=db_name.tbl_nameRecord master and slave status in the specified database
db_nameand tabletbl_name.Copy all databases with names that match the given regular expression.
Reset the binary log after locking all the tables.
Reset the
master.infofile after locking all the tables.--socket=,path-SpathThe Unix socket file to use for connections to
localhost.The suffix to use for names of copied databases.
The temporary directory. The default is
/tmp.--user=,user_name-uuser_nameThe MySQL user name to use when connecting to the server.
Use perldoc for additional
mysqlhotcopy documentation, including
information about the structure of the tables needed for the
--checkpoint and
--record_log_pos options:
shell> perldoc mysqlhotcopy