mysqldump problems with restore error: 'Please DISCARD the tablespace before IMPORT'

Question

I run a daily backup mysqldump backup of the production database (mysql version 5.1.66):

mysqldump --user=username --password=secret -C -e --create-options -         


        

Answer 1

Sounds like you have a tablename.ibd but no tablename.frm.

To check:

1. cd to your mysql data directory then the database name.

   cd /var/lib/mysql/database_name

2. Search for the table name that is giving the error.

   ls tablename.*

   You should see two files:

   tablename.ibd
   tablename.frm
   

   But I'm guessing you don't and only see

   tablename.ibd

To fix you have a few options:

1. Add the follow to mysqldump, which will cause the database to be dropped, cleaning up data directory, before restore.

   --add-drop-database

2. Copy the tablename.frm from prod over to dev and then issue a delete table statement.

Also:

• No need to use net_buffer_length=5000 when you're dumping to a file on localhost.
• Other backup solutions - Percona Xtrabackup