Moving Databases Without Root Access

Trip · February 5th, 2010, 07:07 PM

Currently on I am a shared hosting plan and soon I will be moving to a VPS. I need to move my database, which I have never attempted before. I don't have root access on the shared plan. I was planning on calling my host and asking them too SSH my db and make it available for me to download. Not sure if that will fly or not. Is there any other work around to move databases? I read somewhere people were having good luck with mysqldumper. Any recommendations on the best way to move a database without root access?

Abomination · February 5th, 2010, 07:56 PM

When we were on a shared server I would use puTTY to log in via SSH, then run a couple of commands, which would create a file with the .sql extension. Then used ftp to download that file.

To back up the database:
mysqldump --opt -Q -u dbusername -p databasename > backupname.sql

To restore that back up:
mysql -u dbusername -p databasename < backupname.sql

Yes I tested that method of backup. Some shared hosts need to enable SSH.

Once you have everything backed up, you may want to let your vps provider move the account anyway, that will bring over everything including the emails. At least that is how it worked for us.

bucket · February 5th, 2010, 08:41 PM

how large a database is it?

Trip · February 6th, 2010, 07:26 AM

I believe it's somewhere around 30-40meg? I tried grabbing it off phpmyadmin and it timed out.

Abomination · February 6th, 2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

I believe it's somewhere around 30-40meg? I tried grabbing it off phpmyadmin and it timed out.

I had no problem using the method I posted, 400+MB database.

Trip · February 6th, 2010, 07:55 PM

Not sure I follow you 100% bro. I was under the impression the putty client was used when you have root access to your server for communicating via SSH/telenet??

Abomination · February 6th, 2010, 08:27 PM

We used hostgator. They had something called 'jailed' shell access. They enabled that on my account.

When starting cPanel, it asks for a user name and password.

When I started puTTY, I entered the same login username and password.

Then I used the command in my first post in this thread to make a backup file of the database. That is the only 'official' method vb endorses to make a backup.

Could you ask your host about getting some type of shell access? It does not have anything to do with root access as far as I can tell, you only see the same types of things as you would in the file manager in the cPanel.

Trip · February 7th, 2010, 07:23 AM

I see what you are saying now. When I called my host they weren't exicted about helping me out. Probably because I have plans to move and from their point of view, I can half understand why.

Abomination · February 7th, 2010, 11:20 AM

Just tell them you are being a careful forum admin, and want to make an off site back up. They should understand that. If they are being difficult I would quickly try to get away from them.

When we moved to a vps the new vps provider actually moved the entire site over from the shared hosting account. Everything, including emails. You could ask your new vps provider if they will do that, and if shell access is necessary for that to happen.

Whatever happens, let us know how it turns out. : )

Trip · February 19th, 2010, 03:26 AM

Got it all sorted. Piece of cake.
Thanks for the help Abomination, I appreciate it

bucket · February 19th, 2010, 03:44 AM

good that it was sorted.

but how?

Trip · February 19th, 2010, 06:44 AM

I just asked my new host to move it. "Sure, we do it all the time" 1/2 hour later it was done.

February 5th, 2010, 07:56 PM	#2
Abomination Zealot Posts: 1,484 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California Experience: Intermediate Forums Admin/Mod: 2 Software: vBulletin 3.8.x	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access When we were on a shared server I would use puTTY to log in via SSH, then run a couple of commands, which would create a file with the .sql extension. Then used ftp to download that file. To back up the database: mysqldump --opt -Q -u dbusername -p databasename > backupname.sql To restore that back up: mysql -u dbusername -p databasename < backupname.sql Yes I tested that method of backup. Some shared hosts need to enable SSH. Once you have everything backed up, you may want to let your vps provider move the account anyway, that will bring over everything including the emails. At least that is how it worked for us.

February 5th, 2010, 08:41 PM	#3
bucket Novice Posts: 36 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access how large a database is it?
bucket Novice Posts: 36 Join Date: Nov 2009

February 6th, 2010, 08:27 PM	#7
Abomination Zealot Posts: 1,484 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California Experience: Intermediate Forums Admin/Mod: 2 Software: vBulletin 3.8.x	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access We used hostgator. They had something called 'jailed' shell access. They enabled that on my account. When starting cPanel, it asks for a user name and password. When I started puTTY, I entered the same login username and password. Then I used the command in my first post in this thread to make a backup file of the database. That is the only 'official' method vb endorses to make a backup. Could you ask your host about getting some type of shell access? It does not have anything to do with root access as far as I can tell, you only see the same types of things as you would in the file manager in the cPanel.

February 7th, 2010, 11:20 AM	#9
Abomination Zealot Posts: 1,484 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California Experience: Intermediate Forums Admin/Mod: 2 Software: vBulletin 3.8.x	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access Just tell them you are being a careful forum admin, and want to make an off site back up. They should understand that. If they are being difficult I would quickly try to get away from them. When we moved to a vps the new vps provider actually moved the entire site over from the shared hosting account. Everything, including emails. You could ask your new vps provider if they will do that, and if shell access is necessary for that to happen. Whatever happens, let us know how it turns out. : )

February 19th, 2010, 03:44 AM	#11
bucket Novice Posts: 36 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access good that it was sorted. but how?
bucket Novice Posts: 36 Join Date: Nov 2009

February 5th, 2010, 07:07 PM	#1
Trip	Moving Databases Without Root Access Currently on I am a shared hosting plan and soon I will be moving to a VPS. I need to move my database, which I have never attempted before. I don't have root access on the shared plan. I was planning on calling my host and asking them too SSH my db and make it available for me to download. Not sure if that will fly or not. Is there any other work around to move databases? I read somewhere people were having good luck with mysqldumper. Any recommendations on the best way to move a database without root access?
Trip	Last edited by Trip; February 5th, 2010 at 07:34 PM..

February 6th, 2010, 07:26 AM	#4
Trip	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access I believe it's somewhere around 30-40meg? I tried grabbing it off phpmyadmin and it timed out.
Trip

February 6th, 2010, 07:55 PM	#6
Trip	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access Not sure I follow you 100% bro. I was under the impression the putty client was used when you have root access to your server for communicating via SSH/telenet??
Trip

February 7th, 2010, 07:23 AM	#8
Trip	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access I see what you are saying now. When I called my host they weren't exicted about helping me out. Probably because I have plans to move and from their point of view, I can half understand why.
Trip

February 19th, 2010, 03:26 AM	#10
Trip	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access Got it all sorted. Piece of cake. Thanks for the help Abomination, I appreciate it
Trip

February 19th, 2010, 06:44 AM	#12
Trip	Re: Moving Databases Without Root Access I just asked my new host to move it. "Sure, we do it all the time" 1/2 hour later it was done.
Trip

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