How to Export a Database with Mongodump

Understanding Mongodump Command

Use the mongodump command to export data from your MongoDB database. This utility outputs a binary export of the contents of a MongoDB instance or database.

Basic Mongodump Usage

Execute mongodump with the required options for connection, authentication, and output. The basic syntax is mongodump . Use --uri="" to specify the MongoDB deployment to connect to.

Exporting a Specific Database

Include the --db= option to target a specific database. To authenticate, use --username= and --password=, and specify the authentication database with --authenticationDatabase=.

Specifying Output Directory

Control the output location with the --out= option. Without this, mongodump saves the export to a dump directory in the current working directory.

Exporting to an Archive

To export the database to a single archive file, use the --archive= option. This is useful for transferring data or creating backups.

Connection and Security Options

For secure connections, use --sslCAFile=, --sslPEMKeyFile=, and --sslPEMKeyPassword= options. To bypass certificate validation, use --sslAllowInvalidCertificates.

Additional Options

Use --verbose for increased output detail, or --quiet to minimize output. Check the version of mongodump with the --version option.

Mongodump Examples

Example commands demonstrate various ways to use mongodump, such as using a URI to connect to the database or specifying standard flags for username and password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can mongodump export data from different types of MongoDB deployments?

Yes, mongodump can export data from standalone deployments, replica sets, sharded clusters, and serverless instances.

How do you limit the documents included in the mongodump output?

To limit the documents, use the --query option with a JSON document as the query filter. This option requires the accompanying --collection option and does not work with time series collections.

Is it possible to compress the output of mongodump?

Yes, the --gzip option can be used to compress the output of mongodump.

What is the purpose of the --oplog option in mongodump?

The --oplog option is used to create an oplog.bson file containing oplog entries that occur during the mongodump operation, providing a point-in-time snapshot of the database. It is typically used with a full dump of a replica set member.

Can mongodump be used to export views as collections?

Yes, mongodump can export views as collections if the --viewsAsCollections option is used.

Common Use Cases

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  Creating backup copies of MongoDB databases for disaster recovery planning
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  Migrating data from one MongoDB server to another
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  Archiving historical data from a MongoDB database for compliance
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  Facilitating the process of analyzing data offline
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  Supporting the duplication of databases for testing and development environments

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