Is copying /var/lib/mysql a good alterntive to mysqldump?

[JohnASimpleWorld]

I am planning to make a full backup of my entire Centos system, I was thinking if I have a copy of /var/lib/mysql directory is a good way to backup all my databases.

are all informations needed contained in that directory?
can there be problems while restoring those files on a new VPS server?
All my database will be restored without using any tools?

 

[Rob Whisonant]

Yes it will work but I would shut down MySQL first. Then do the backup. Then restart MySQL. Also make sure if you do copy the folder to a new server that it is running the same version of MySQL as the one you backed it up from.

 

[Harry P]

Harry P

Does this work for phpmyadmin on my web hosting panel? they are shown on phpmyadmin without importing separate database file?

 

[Rob Whisonant]

Rob Whisonant

phpmyadmin is just a script. It's not a part of the MySQL server. So it should not matter.

 

[Dewlance]

Problem I face with MySQL-Dump, It does not take backup of corrupt data so If we will take backup using mysqldump and try to restore on new server then it will be possible that many of database will be not restored.

But with copying /var/lib/mysql directory, It will restore data as it is and nothing will be lost. You can repair corrupt data.


As suggested by Rob Whisonant, Always shutdown MySQL/MariaDB server before taking a backup of directory else data can be lost.