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MySQL Backup

You can use Veeam Agent for Linux to create transactionally consistent backups of Veeam Agent machines that run the MySQL database system.

How MySQL Processing Works

To ensure that the backed-up data is in the consistent state, Veeam Agent for Linux performs the MySQL database system processing. To process the database system, Veeam Agent performs the following operations:

When the backup job starts, Veeam Agent connects to the MySQL database system and obtains the list of tables.
Veeam Agent locks base tables that are based on the MyISAM storage engine. Veeam Agent changes the table state using the MySQL functionality. Tables based on the InnoDB storage engine do not require locking.

Keep in mind that Veeam Agent supports processing of tables based on the MyISAM and InnoDB storage engines only. Veeam Agent does not support tables that use other storage engines.

Creates a snapshot of the volume.
Unlocks tables locked at the step 2.

After Veeam Agent unlocks tables, Veeam Agent proceeds to the next step of the backup process. To learn more, see How Backup Works.

Authentication Methods

MySQL Backup Important!

To process the MySQL database system, the MySQL account must have the following privileges:

SELECT for all tables. If the MySQL account does not have the SELECT privilege for the table, Veeam Agent cannot access table metadata. As a result, Veeam Agent does not process the table. To learn more, see MySQL documentation.
LOCK TABLES. If the MySQL account does not have the LOCK TABLES privilege, Veeam Agent does not process tables based on the MyISAM storage engine.

To obtain information about privileges that are assigned to the account, use MySQL functionality, for example, the SHOW GRANTS statement. To learn more, see MySQL documentation.

Veeam Agent for Linux can connect to the MySQL database system using one of the following methods:

Password — Veeam Agent uses the MySQL account credentials that you specify in the backup job settings.
Password file — Veeam Agent uses the MySQL account credentials that are stored in the .my.cnf password file. To learn more about password file configuration, see Preparing Password File for MySQL Processing.

Requirements and Limitations for MySQL Processing

Veeam Agent for Linux supports processing of MySQL database system version 5.6 — 8.0.

Configurations with multiple MySQL installations and/or instances on the same machine are not supported.
MySQL Cluster versions are not supported.

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