Downloading MySQL dump from command line

Solution 1:

You can accomplish this using the mysqldump command-line function.

For example:

If it's an entire DB, then:

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name > db_backup.sql

If it's all DBs, then:

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p --all-databases > all_db_backup.sql

If it's specific tables within a DB, then:

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name table1 table2 > table_backup.sql

You can even go as far as auto-compressing the output using gzip (if your DB is very big):

   $ mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name | gzip > db_backup.sql.gz

If you want to do this remotely and you have the access to the server in question, then the following would work (presuming the MySQL server is on port 3306):

   $ mysqldump -P 3306 -h [ip_address] -u [uname] -p db_name > db_backup.sql

It should drop the .sql file in the folder you run the command-line from.

EDIT: Updated to avoid inclusion of passwords in CLI commands, use the -p option without the password. It will prompt you for it and not record it.

Solution 2:

In latest versions of mysql, at least in mine, you cannot put your pass in the command directly.

You have to run:

mysqldump -u [uname] -p db_name > db_backup.sql

and then it will ask for the password.

Solution 3:

If downloading from remote server, here is a simple example:

mysqldump -h my.address.amazonaws.com -u my_username -p db_name > /home/username/db_backup_name.sql

The -p indicates you will enter a password, it does not relate to the db_name. After entering the command you will be prompted for the password. Type it in and press enter.

Solution 4:

On windows you need to specify the mysql bin where the mysqldump.exe resides.

cd C:\xampp\mysql\bin

mysqldump -u[username] -p[password] --all-databases > C:\localhost.sql

save this into a text file such as backup.cmd