Use command line to backup/restore mysql databases

Unfortunately phpMyAdmin has limits when backing up or restoring databases. If you have a dedicated server, then the easiest way to get around phpMyAdmin is with SSH -- I use PuTTY.

backing up

mysqldump --opt -u[DB-USERNAME] -p[DB-USER-PASSWORD] DBNAME > backup.dump

restoring

mysql -u[DB-USERNAME] -p[DB-USER-PASSWORD] DBNAME < backup.dump

Note that in both cases the second "argument" after -p is the database name and not the password -- you'll be prompted for the password before the command executes.

the hostname....

In most cases the above lines work, but sometimes you also need to slip in a -h "argument"

mysql -h HOSTNAME -u[DB-USERNAME] -p[DB-USER-PASSWORD] DBNAME < backup.dump

I had to do that when working on Media Temple.