How to import a SQL Server .bak file into MySQL?
The .BAK files from SQL server are in Microsoft Tape Format (MTF) ref: http://www.fpns.net/willy/msbackup.htm
The bak file will probably contain the LDF and MDF files that SQL server uses to store the database.
You will need to use SQL server to extract these. SQL Server Express is free and will do the job.
So, install SQL Server Express edition, and open the SQL Server Powershell. There execute sqlcmd -S <COMPUTERNAME>\SQLExpress (whilst logged in as administrator)
then issue the following command.
restore filelistonly from disk='c:\temp\mydbName-2009-09-29-v10.bak';
GO
This will list the contents of the backup - what you need is the first fields that tell you the logical names - one will be the actual database and the other the log file.
RESTORE DATABASE mydbName FROM disk='c:\temp\mydbName-2009-09-29-v10.bak'
WITH
MOVE 'mydbName' TO 'c:\temp\mydbName_data.mdf',
MOVE 'mydbName_log' TO 'c:\temp\mydbName_data.ldf';
GO
At this point you have extracted the database - then install Microsoft's "Sql Web Data Administrator". together with this export tool and you will have an SQL script that contains the database.
MySql have an application to import db from microsoft sql. Steps:
- Open MySql Workbench
- Click on "Database Migration" (if it do not appear you have to install it from MySql update)
- Follow the Migration Task List using the simple Wizard.
I did not manage to find a way to do it directly.
Instead I imported the bak file into SQL Server 2008 Express, and then used MySQL Migration Toolkit.
Worked like a charm!
In this problem, the answer is not updated in a timely. So it's happy to say that in 2020 Migrating to MsSQL into MySQL is that much easy. An online converter like RebaseData will do your job with one click. You can just upload your .bak file which is from MsSQL and convert it into .sql format which is readable to MySQL.
Additional note: This can not only convert your .bak files but also this site is for all types of Database migrations that you want.