Is it possible to manually restore a database created from an "Entire MySQL Directory" backup option?

Question

When using the cPanel Backup Feature, you can backup the entire MySQL data directory using the following option.

WHM: Home >> Backup >> Backup Configuration

This will create a full directory backup of the MySQL directory in your backup directory.

Example: 

/backup/2020-08-13/system/dirs/_var_lib_mysql_.tar.gz

Once expanded, you will find the 'raw' MySQL database directories and files.

Example:

# tar -ztvf _var_lib_mysql_.tar.gz  | grep cptest
drwxr-x--- mysql/mysql        0 2020-08-13 08:36 var/lib/mysql/cptest_cptest/
-rw-r----- mysql/mysql       65 2020-08-13 08:36 var/lib/mysql/cptest_cptest/db.opt
drwxr-x--- mysql/mysql        0 2020-08-13 08:38 var/lib/mysql/cptest3_cptest/
-rw-r----- mysql/mysql       65 2020-08-13 08:38 var/lib/mysql/cptest3_cptest/db.opt
drwxr-x--- mysql/mysql        0 2020-08-13 08:38 var/lib/mysql/cptest4_cptest/
-rw-r----- mysql/mysql       65 2020-08-13 08:38 var/lib/mysql/cptest4_cptest/db.opt

Answer

Yes, however, the process of manual database restoration is a task that is best handled by a database administrator with the skills, training, and expertise required to do so for you.

cPanel does not have a feature for this specific database administration task. The process of restoring a database from raw/physical files is complex and has a large potential for risking irrecoverable data loss.

We strongly urge you to complete a MySQL backup before attempting this type of restoration.

Create MySQL backups

And reference the following documentation for more information regarding restoration from full MySQL directory backups.

MySQL Backup and Restoration

Please feel free to make a request to have a WHM Feature created using the following link:

cPanel Feature Requests