Topic 18436 min readStructured Tutorial
MySQL Backup and Restore: Physical Backups
Quick Answer
Physical backups in MySQL involve copying the actual database files from the storage system. This method is fast and efficient for large databases and ensures exact copies of data files, but requires the database to be stopped or use tools that support hot backups.
Learning Objectives
- Understand what physical backups are in MySQL and how they differ from logical backups.
- Learn the methods to perform cold and hot physical backups.
- Identify tools and best practices for managing MySQL physical backups.
Introduction
Backing up your MySQL database is essential to protect against data loss. Physical backups involve copying the actual database files from the filesystem.
This tutorial explains how physical backups work, their advantages, and how to perform them safely in MySQL environments.
A backup is not a backup until you have tested the restore.
