4.6.9. mysqlhotcopy — A Database Backup Program

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

FormatOption FileDescriptionIntroductionDeprecatedRemoved
--addtodestaddtodestDo not rename target directory (if it exists); merely add files to it   
--allowoldallowoldDo not abort if a target exists; rename it by adding an _old suffix   
--checkpoint=db_name.tbl_namecheckpointInsert checkpoint entries   
--chroot=pathchrootBase directory of the chroot jail in which mysqld operates   
--debugdebugWrite a debugging log   
--dryrundryrunReport actions without performing them   
--flushlogflushlogFlush logs after all tables are locked   
--help Display help message and exit   
--host=host_namehostConnect to the MySQL server on the given host   
--keepoldkeepoldDo not delete previous (renamed) target when done   
--noindicesnoindicesDo not include full index files in the backup   
--old_serverold_serverConnect to server that does not support FLUSH TABLES tbl_list WITH READ LOCK5.5.3  
--password[=password]passwordThe password to use when connecting to the server   
--port=port_numportThe TCP/IP port number to use for the connection   
--quietquietBe silent except for errors   
--regexpregexpCopy all databases with names that match the given regular expression   
--resetmasterresetmasterReset the binary log after locking all the tables   
--resetslaveresetslaveReset the master.info file after locking all the tables   
--socket=pathsocketFor connections to localhost   
--tmpdir=pathtmpdirThe temporary directory   
--user=user_name,userThe MySQL user name to use when connecting to the server   
  • --help, -?

    Display a help message and exit.

  • --addtodest

    Do not rename target directory (if it exists); merely add files to it.

  • --allowold

    Do not abort if a target exists; rename it by adding an _old suffix.

  • --checkpoint=db_name.tbl_name

    Insert checkpoint entries into the specified database db_name and table tbl_name.

  • --chroot=path

    Base directory of the chroot jail in which mysqld operates. The path value should match that of the --chroot option given to mysqld.

  • --debug

    Enable debug output.

  • --dryrun, -n

    Report actions without performing them.

  • --flushlog

    Flush logs after all tables are locked.

  • --host=host_name, -h host_name

    The 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 localhost using a Unix socket file.

  • --keepold

    Do not delete previous (renamed) target when done.

  • --method=command

    The method for copying files (cp or scp). The default is cp.

  • --noindices

    Do not include full index files for MyISAM tables in the backup. This makes the backup smaller and faster. The indexes for reloaded tables can be reconstructed later with myisamchk -rq.

  • --password=password, -ppassword

    The 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, -P port_num

    The TCP/IP port number to use when connecting to the local server.

  • --old_server

    As of MySQL 5.5.3, mysqlhotcopy uses FLUSH TABLES tbl_list WITH READ LOCK to flush and lock tables. Use the --old_server option 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, -q

    Be silent except for errors.

  • --record_log_pos=db_name.tbl_name

    Record master and slave status in the specified database db_name and table tbl_name.

  • --regexp=expr

    Copy all databases with names that match the given regular expression.

  • --resetmaster

    Reset the binary log after locking all the tables.

  • --resetslave

    Reset the master.info file after locking all the tables.

  • --socket=path, -S path

    The Unix socket file to use for connections to localhost.

  • --suffix=str

    The suffix to use for names of copied databases.

  • --tmpdir=path

    The temporary directory. The default is /tmp.

  • --user=user_name, -u user_name

    The 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
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