Question

I have a large mySQL database that I backup each night via a cron job:

/usr/bin/mysqldump --opt USERNAME -e -h SERVERNAME -uUSER -pPASSWORD > /home/DIRECTORY/backup.sql

It is working well – except when I go to ‘restore’ the sql file on another server – it takes a long time (about 3 mins)

This is in contrast to using phpMyAdmin – if I do “export” and export the same mySQL database, then import that sql file into another server it only takes 10 seconds.

Question: how do I make “mysqldump” create the same type of sql file that “phpMyAdmin” does?

Example of some FAST version sql (not all of it):

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `absence_type` (
  `absence_type_ID` int(16) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `name` varchar(30) COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (`absence_type_ID`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM  DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 COLLATE=utf8_unicode_ci AUTO_INCREMENT=14 ;

--
-- Dumping data for table `absence_type`
--

INSERT INTO `absence_type` (`absence_type_ID`, `name`) VALUES
(1, 'Sick Leave'),
(2, 'Personal Carers'),
(3, 'Other');

Example of some SLOW version sql (not all of it):

        --
    -- Table structure for table `absence_type`
    --

    DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `absence_type`;
    /*!40101 SET @saved_cs_client     = @@character_set_client */;
    /*!40101 SET character_set_client = utf8 */;
    CREATE TABLE `absence_type` (
      `absence_type_ID` int(16) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
      `name` varchar(30) COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci NOT NULL,
      PRIMARY KEY (`absence_type_ID`)
    ) ENGINE=MyISAM AUTO_INCREMENT=14 DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 COLLATE=utf8_unicode_ci;
    /*!40101 SET character_set_client = @saved_cs_client */;

    --
    -- Dumping data for table `absence_type`
    --

    LOCK TABLES `absence_type` WRITE;
    /*!40000 ALTER TABLE `absence_type` DISABLE KEYS */;
    INSERT INTO `absence_type` VALUES
 (1,'Sick Leave'),
 (2,'Personal Carers'),
 (3,'Other');
    /*!40000 ALTER TABLE `absence_type` ENABLE KEYS */;
    UNLOCK TABLES;

Answer 1

From my comments…

Likely the options between mysqldump and PHPMyAdmin export don’t match. For example, inclusion of DROP TABLE, extended INSERT, etc.

I suggest comparing the two files. I’m sure there is something obvious. Then either adjust the options for mysqldump or in PHPMyAdmin. Either should work as the latter uses mysqldump underneath.