Migrating Accounts: A Mini How-To
 

After upgrading to Angelox's database I had to migrate all my accounts, characters and items to the new database. For those of you who are thinking of doing this here is what I did:

First off, I use the windows version of MySQL Administrator program for all my work.

Launch the administrator and click on the "Backup" section. Here you will create a new project to back up each of your databases. Make sure you have a common directory for all of your backup files, as it makes it easier to find them later.

I made a project for backing up my EQ database called "EQ Backup" and one for my PEQ database called "PEQ Backup".

After making a backup of all my databases, I create a new backup project called Accounts Backup.

Choose the database you want to move your accounts from and click the ">" button to copy it into the next pane.

In the pane where you choose what tables in the database you want to move your accounts from and check off all of the tables and re-select just the following:

account
character_
character_backup
inventory
sharedbank

Click "Save Project", and execute the backup.

Next go to the "Restore" section and click "Open Backup File" and open your Accounts backup.sql file.

IMPORTANT Step: In the "general" section of the first pane, there is a drop down box called "Target Schema" change this to the target database you want to copy your Accounts Backup to.

Run the backup with the "Start Restore" button. After a moment, you should be good to go! You can check it using the MySQL Query Browser tool or just logging in and seeing if it worked. NOTE: This will replace the tables the account tables in the new database.

Nice post CrabClaw.

A few weeks ago when I switched over to Angelox's database it took me about 4 times of fiddling with what to copy over before I figured out exactly what to move:
account
character_
character_backup
inventory
sharedbank

This post makes it easier for everyone. You should put this in the Wiki when its online again.

- Zandig Slaytanic

Thanks - not to mention I didn't know better to back up my "inventory", "sharedbank" tables. I guess since I never cleared those in the first place, I never really noticed it.

Thanks, I just wanted to share the experience of my trials with everyone who may need it. The more people sucessfully setting up, maintaining, and running the Emulator the better. :)

As long as we're offering advice, here's what I do usually; I'll take the "drop_users.sql" files you see in the PEQ database packs and export all the user and/or server specific tables to a backup, then clear the tables in the new imported database, and then import the backup back in.

I think the tables above is a good bare-minimum to backup, but don't forget things like faction_values, variables, or commands (if you customized anything).

Plus the 2 new(er) tables: rule_sets and rule_values.

I really appreciate any help anyone can give me, I know I'm standing on the tip of the iceburg when it comes to SQL and Perl ; most what I have learned in those areas, I learned here - I do have a dear old friend, who has been my "lifetime tutor" when it comes to programming, and still helps me out.

Yes I know about those, but it's good you mentioned them. I just wanted to give a way to take just the characters, thier equipment, and accounts, because some databases, or databases in the future, might have custom factions or rules. So this will get you just your basic "stuff" to play with on the new setup. :)

Check out GeorgeS's backup utility. You can easily pick and choose which tables to backup or restore, plus keep several copies of each. It's Lightning fast too...

Here's his link: http://66.159.225.58/eqemu/eq.html

Upon further research, yes faction_values should be added (I could not edit my post). Just in case you take the time to grind a faction (say the OT hammer) and don't want to re-do it. :)

Character Backups
 

Thank you for this invaluable guide. i started playing with eqemu about 2 weeks ago even though I have been registered here for a long time. It's great to see some great posts dating all the back and a very fast search facility.

I recently buggered up my database, not sure how but every zone ended up looping when a character zoned. Very weird :)

This info was exactly what i needed to rebuild my server and restore all those hours of playtime for my housemates and myself.

Thanks guys!