Backup&Restore docker container data (step-by-step)

1. CREATE A NETWORK

$ docker network create mysql



2. CREATE A DATA CONTAINER

$ docker create \
  --name mysql-data \
  --volume /var/lib/mysql \
  --volume /backups \
  mysql:latest



3. CREATE THE REAL CONTAINER TO USE

$ docker run \
  --detach \
  --env MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=<your-mysql-password> \
  --env MYSQL_DATABASE=test \
  --name mysql-server \
  --net mysql \
  --volumes-from mysql-data \
  mysql:latest



4. INSERT SOME DATA

$ docker exec -it mysql-server bash

# mysql -p

> USE test
> CREATE TABLE dog(age INT, name TEXT);
> INSERT INTO dog(age, name) VALUES(5, "bolt");

> \q
# CTRL+D





5. MAKE A MYSQL BACKUP (THIS IS STILL INSIDE THE CONTAINER)

$ docker run \
  --rm \
  --net mysql \
  --volumes-from mysql-data \
  mysql \
  bash -c "mysqldump -p<your-mysql-password> -h mysql-server --databases test > /backups/test.sql"




6. EXPORT THE BACKUP INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE

$ docker run \
  --rm \
  --volumes-from mysql-data \
  carinamarina/backup \
  backup \
  --source /backups/ \
  --stdout \
  --zip > my-local-backup.tar.gz




7. DELETE THOSE CONTAINERS

$ docker stop mysql-server
$ docker rm mysql-server mysql-data





8. REPEAT SETEP 2 AND 3 TO CREATE THEM AGAIN
IF YOU WANT TO CHECK IF IT'S EMPTY USE:

$ docker exec -it mysql-server bash

# mysql -p

> SHOW DATABASES

YOU SHOULDN'T SEE test DATABASE









9. SEND BACK THE BACKUP (FROM OUTSIDE THE CONTAINER) TO THE CONTAINER (TO INSIDE THE CONTAINER)

docker run \
  --rm \
  --interactive \
  --volumes-from mysql-data \
  carinamarina/backup \
  restore \
  --destination /backups/ \
  --stdin \
  --zip \
  < my-local-backup.tar.gz





10. IMPORT THE BACKUP DATA DO MYSQL DATABASE (IT HAPPENS INSIDE THE CONTAINER)

docker run \
  --rm \
  --net mysql \
  --volumes-from mysql-data \
  mysql:latest \
  bash -c "mysql -p<your-mysql-password> -h mysql-server < /backups/test.sql"




11. CHECK IF IT'S OK

$ docker exec -it mysql-server bash

# mysql -p

> SHOW DATABASES
> USE test
> SHOW TABLES
> SELECT * FROM dog;