How to backup and recover MySQL?

Question

I need to re-install MySQL.

But if there is some trouble,the best will be recover the original one.

Is it possible to achieve this?

Answer 1

For your other questions, I think you only need to "yum install" the mysql packages that you have uninstalled. If you mean "recovering the data", you always need to make a backup copy of the mysql data before the upgrade, I would recommend to make logical and raw backups.

Also you need to check if you're going to perform a major upgrade (like going from mysql 3 o mysql 5) and check which other packages depend on the current installed MySQL.

Answer 2

if you just want to be able to roll back your reinstallation, do this:

1. backup /etc/mysql/my.cnf
2. shut down mysql
3. backup the mysql data directory, /var/lib/mysql on most linux distors.

reinstall/upgrade your server.

if you need to roll back, shut down mysql and copy those files back.

Answer 3

You haven't specified the platform, so it's hard to be really specific, but the process is the same regardless. Make sure you know where the current installation's files are and back them up, making extra sure you have any and all config files, which are unlikely to be in the same location as the rest of the files. Backup the data by doing a full dump of all databases, including the mysql database, using whatever method you prefer. Stop the service(s) and do your reinstall. All going well, that's the end of it. If things go bad just restore your backups.