Step One - Backup current database:
Telnet/SSH into your system (we'll call it machine1)
from the root directory, type
mysqldump --opt -uUSERNAME -p databasename > /path/to/dump.sql
this should only take about than 30 seconds to a few minutes, depending on your database size
when it is completed, it will bring you back to the prompt
verify that you have a dump.sql in the /path/to area you specified
Step Two - Transfer to new server
Telnet/SSH into machine1, and from the command prompt type the following:
cd /path/to/yourbackupdirectory
Then type
ftp MACHINE2
Replace MACHINE2 with the host name (eg.
www.example.com ) or IP address (eg. 192.168.0.0 ) of your new server. This should open a connection and ask for your username/password, then it should say ftp>
Type the following, hitting enter after each line:
bin
cd /path/to/newdirectory
put dump.sql
It should take between 20 seconds and a few minutes depending on the size of the file. Now type:
close
quit
verify dump.sql is in the /path/to/new area on the new server.
Step Three - Restore to new server
Telnet/SSH into machine2
create a database on the mysql if necessary (ask your server admin for help with this as it varies from machine to machine)
at the prompt type
mysql -uUSERNAME -p newdbname < /path/to/dump.sql
this takes a couple of minutes depending on your database size, but you can track the progress either by FTP (checking the /mysql/data/newdbname and see the files appearing) or by phpMyAdmin (you should see the files appearing there)
when it is completed, it will bring you back to the prompt