Top Methods to Recover MySQL Database From FRM and IBD Files

Summary: This is a common situation that most IT teams face after accidental deletion, server crashes, or improper MySQL shutdowns. If you have also faced any similar issues and dealt with corrupted databases or incomplete backups. Then, it becomes essential to understand how you can recover MySQL database from FRM and IBD files is essential. It can be the last resort to save your years of crucial table structure and data. This blog describes effective techniques for recovery, along with a MySQL Database Recovery Tool for quick, practical results with no downtime or loss. Download Now Purchase Now

What Makes Restore Data from .FRM and .IBD Files Hard?

While many users assume the recovery is simple and direct, they often forget that MySQL doesn’t support raw import of FRM and IBD files. The reasons for it are:

• FRM files only contain the table schema and don’t define data or metadata within.
• IBD files have the raw data of the InnoDB storage engine tables. But needs metadata from the MySQL internal system tables.
• MySQL does not recognize the IBD files until it matches the InnoDB directory entries.
• It requires InnoDB to run in file-per-table mode and also match the MySQL versions correctly.

So, in a way, it becomes essential to retrieve MySQL database from .frm and .ibd files.

Recover MySQL Database from FRM and IBD Files Process

In these technical environments, several recovery options are available online. Some work fine, others damage the data even more. So, for reliable and accurate recovery, here, we mention some free manual methods. Along with that, a professional tool solution is specified at the end for enhanced data security and recovery.

Restore MySQL Database from ibd and frm Files Manually

Here is the step-by-step guide for different manual solutions that enable free data recovery of MySQL databases:

Method 1: Discard and Import IBD File

Before we begin, ensure that the MySQL table uses innodb_file_per_table=1 at the export. Now, the steps are:

1. Open your MySQL database, and in it, connect to your MySQL server with the command: mysql -u root –p.
2. Create a dummy table with the exact name and structure as the original.
3. Use the command CREATE TABLE mysql_table (…); for the dummy table creation.
4. Furthermore, if you have to recover MySQL database from FRM and IBD files, then:

• First, find the table schema with mysqlfrm [options] [path_to_mysqlfrm_files]
• And extract the table definitions with the command:

mysqlfrm /path/to/mysqlfrm/files > mysqltable_definitions.sql

1. Afterward, to delete the new IBD file, use the command:

ALTER TABLE mysql_table DISCARD TABLESPACE;

1. Furthermore, replace your new IBD file with the old one (same name) manually.
2. Also, verify that all the permissions and ownership are granted.
3. Finally, run the command: ALTER TABLE mysql_table IMPORT TABLESPACE;
4. If it is successful, the MySQL database table will be restored and usable.

This is one method by how you can restore tables data from the FRM and IBD files. There exists one more way.

Method 2: Data Extraction When the Server Doesn’t Start

When MySQL refuses to start and no logical backup is available either, then, innodb_force_recovery is the freeway. Its steps are:

1. First, edit your my.cnf file by [mysqld]

innodb_force_recovery = 6

1. Next, restart the MySQL service once again.
2. Further, export your tables with the following command:

mysqldump -u root -p mysqldatabase > mysqlbackup.sql

1. Finally, reinstall MySQL and re-import the dump.

However, this method is generally incomplete, time-consuming, complex, and riskier. Also, it often results in data loss.

Both methods are difficult for non-techies and contain high risk with much complexity. Therefore, let’s move forward with an easy and genuine solution.

Automatically Recover MySQL Database From FRM and IBD Files

If the manual method fails, you are left with orphaned frm and idb files now. So, in such a case, using the professional MySQL Database Recovery Tool is a reliable choice. It extracts the full schema data from .frm and .ibd files like tables, keys, properties, data types, views, triggers, etc.

Additionally, this smart utility eliminates the need to match server configurations manually. Moreover, this reliable utility restores the files to a new or existing database or SQL script without any loss.

One example case is as follows:

“A product data team managing 15+ TB of catalogs recovered their fragmented MySQL table data (with indexes) in under 5 hours using the professional MySQL Recovery Tool. It didn’t touch the live server and recovered the entire data simply with frm and ibd files at once.”

Restore MySQL Database from ibd and frm Files-

1. Install and start the MySQL Repair Tool, then click the Open button.
2. Further, input your MySQL .frm or .ibd file here with (…)and click OK.
3. A prompt will appear asking to add the ibData1 file. Press Yes.
4. After that, you will be directed to the system files, choose and open them.
5. Wait for scanning to complete and later, expand and preview the folders.
6. Next, select your records to restore and click Save MySQL Data from above.
7. At last, pick option to save in database or script, add location, and click OK.

Also Read: SQL Server Error 15023

Conclusion

The decision to recover MySQL database from FRM and IBD files is indeed correct, but the process isn’t straightforward. Also, it is not impossible, as we have provided you with three different solutions that help restore the important MySQL data. For large-scale and sensitive recoveries, using the professional tool can reduce the risk significantly and even maintain the integrity.

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