# Import and Backup

## How can I backup a SingleStore database?

SingleStore supports consistent, online, cluster-wide `BACKUP` and `RESTORE` operations that do not require blocking write operations on the database like `mysqldump` does.

See [Back Up and Restore Data](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/manage-data/back-up-and-restore-data.md) for more information.

## How can I import data from MySQL, Postgres, MS-SQL etc?

Refer to [Load Data](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/load-data.md) for more information.

## How can I easily copy a table?

You can use `CREATE TABLE dest AS SELECT * FROM source`. See [CREATE TABLE](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/data-definition-language-ddl/create-table.md).

Or, create a new empty table using the schema of the original table from `SHOW CREATE TABLE source` and copy data from source table into the new table using `INSERT INTO dest SELECT * FROM source`.

## How can I easily copy a database?

Available options include:

* Use replication. Run `REPLICATE DATABASE dest_db FROM user@host:port/src_db`, and after it fully synchronizes run `STOP REPLICATING dest_db`. See [Replicating Data Across Clusters](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/user-and-cluster-administration/high-availability-and-disaster-recovery/replicating-data-across-clusters.md) .
* [BACKUP](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/operational-commands/backup-database.md) the database and [RESTORE](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/operational-commands/restore-database.md) it on the same (or a different) cluster under a different name.

## Where are the important data files (recovery log, binary logs, snapshots, data files etc)?

Run `SHOW STATUS EXTENDED LIKE '%_directory'` to get the full paths.

***

Modified at: February 7, 2025

Source: [/db/v9.1/introduction/faqs/import-and-backup/](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/introduction/faqs/import-and-backup/)

(An index of the documentation is available at /llms.txt)