Knowledge Base

Manage MySQL Database on Linux Hosting

This guide covers the essential MySQL database tasks in your Linux hosting account, including creating a database, accessing it through phpMyAdmin, importing or exporting backups, and checking and repairing a database.

MySQL databases store and manage the data that websites and applications, such as WordPress, need to run properly. By the end of this guide, you'll know how to create, access, back up, restore, and maintain a MySQL database with confidence.

When to create a database manually

Many applications, such as WordPress and Joomla, automatically create and configure a database during installation. However, there are situations where you'll need to create and manage a database yourself.

You may need to create a database manually when:

The application or website does not provide an automatic database setup process during installation (for example, a manual WordPress installation).
A website requires an existing database to be imported, restored, or rebuilt from a backup, such as during a website migration.

How to create a MySQL database

Our Linux Hosting plans allow you to manually create a MySQL database using either the Linux Control Panel or cPanel. Classic hosting plans support database creation through cPanel only.

Access your Linux Control Panel.
Find the website you want to manage, then click SETTINGS. This opens the Linux Website Manager.
Click the Advanced tab.
Scroll down to Databases and click MANAGE.
Click ADD DATABASE.
Enter a database name and click ADD DATABASE. The new database will appear on the database list.
In the Users column, click Add User.
In the Select user dropdown, click + Create a new user.
Enter a username and password.
Under User privileges, tick the Select All box.
Click ADD USER to save the changes.

Your database is now ready to use. You can connect it to your application or import an existing database backup file.

Access your cPanel.
Scroll down to Databases section.
Click on MySQL Database Wizard.
Enter a database name, then click Next Step.
Enter a username and password, then click Create User.
Tick ALL PRIVILEGES box and click Next Step.

Your database has been created and will appear in the Current Databases list. You can now connect it to your application or import a database backup file.

How to access a database using phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin is a web-based database management tool that lets you view, edit, and manage your database content.

Access your Linux Control Panel.
Find the website you want to manage, then click SETTINGS. This opens the Linux Website Manager.
Click the Advanced tab.
Scroll down to PHPMyAdmin and click MANAGE. This will open the phpMyAdmin interface.
On the left side, click the database you want to manage.

You can now view and manage your database content.

Access your cPanel.
Scroll down to Databases.
Click on phpMyAdmin. This will open the phpMyAdmin interface.
On the left side, click the database you want to manage.

You can now view and manage your database content.

How to import a database backup

Importing a database allows you to restore data from a backup or move a database from one environment to another. Before proceeding, ensure you have a valid database backup file.

IMPORTANT. Importing a backup into a database that already contains data may overwrite or duplicate existing records. We recommend creating a backup before proceeding.

Go to your phpMyAdmin.
On the left pane, click on the empty database where you want to import the backup file.
Click the Import tab at the top of the page.
Click Choose File and select the database backup file on your computer.
Once done, scroll down and click Import.

Once the import is complete, your database will be available for your website or application to use.

How to export a database backup

Exporting a database creates a backup file that you can save locally for safekeeping or migration purposes.

In your phpMyAdmin, click on the database that you want to export.
Click the Export tab.
Leave the export format set to SQL.
Click Export.

The database backup file will be downloaded to your computer.

How to check and repair a database

Database corruption can occur due to incomplete updates, server interruptions, or other unexpected issues. Checking and repairing your database can help identify and resolve database table errors that may affect your website's functionality.

Access your Linux Control Panel.
Find the website you want to manage, then click SETTINGS. This opens the Linux Website Manager.
Click the Advanced tab.
Scroll down to Databses and click MANAGE.
Click the three-dot (⋮) icon on the database you want to manage.
From here you can do the following:
- Check Database – to verify the integrity of the database and identifies any issues
- Repair Database – to fix database table errors that may affect website functionality
Wait for the process to finish, then click CLOSE.

Access your cPanel.
Scroll down to Databases section, then select MySQL Databases.
Under the Modify Databases section, select the database you want to manage, then click either:
- Check Database
- Repair Database
Wait for the process to finish, and you'll see a confirmation message.

All set!

You now know how to create, access, back up, restore, and maintain MySQL databases in your Linux hosting account. With these tools, you can manage your website's data, recover from issues, and keep your databases running smoothly.

If you need to perform additional database management tasks, you can continue using phpMyAdmin and your hosting control panel.

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