# Send a Backup to Specify

**URL:** <https://speciforum.org/t/send-a-backup-to-specify/767>\
**Category:** Configuration & Installation\
**Tags:** Specify-7, Specify-6, Members-only\
**Created:** [June 14, 2025, 5:00am UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/send-a-backup-to-specify/767 "2025-06-14T05:00:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Grant](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/speciforum.org/grant/32/4255_2.png) [@Grant](https://speciforum.org/u/Grant)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 5:00am UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/send-a-backup-to-specify/767/1 "2025-06-14T05:00:00Z")

</div>

> 📖 This guide explains how to create a complete backup of your database and how to send it to the SCC support team.

## Specify Backup

 ![Backup Database dialog without an existing backup](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/specifysoftware/original/2X/c/c64eea878f04eea496fbd2003ecfbaf6fd444eb2.png)

In **Specify 7.11.2** or later, authorized users can create a full backup of their database directly from the Specify 7 interface. This provides a simple and secure way to download a complete snapshot of your data for archival purposes, migrations, or peace of mind.

> [@How to Create a Full Database Backup in Specify](https://speciforum.org/t/how-to-create-a-full-database-backup-in-specify/2798/1):
>
> book This guide explains how authorized users can generate and download a full snapshot of their database directly from the Specify 7 interface. It covers granting backup permissions to specific users, initiating the backup process, and managing or downloading existing backup files. Authorized users can create a full backup of their database directly from the Specify 7 interface. This provides a simple and secure way to download a complete snapshot of your data for archival purposes, migrat…

## Command-Line Backup

> [!caution]- Packet-Size Adjustment
> 
> Large Specify 7 [WorkBench](https://speciforum.org/t/the-specify-7-workbench/540) and Batch Edit Data Sets live in the `spdataset` table, sometimes exceeding MySQL/MariaDB’s default packet-size limit and causing incomplete dumps. **To ensure a full backup** , increase the `max_allowed_packet` on **both** server and client:
> 
> 1. Open your MySQL/MariaDB configuration file (e.g., `my.cnf` or `my.ini`).
> 2. Under the `[mysqld]` header add:
> 
> ```auto
> max_allowed_packet=1024M
> net_read_timeout=3600
> net_write_timeout=3600
> 
> ```
> 
> 3. Under the `[client]` header add the same `max_allowed_packet` setting.
> 4. Restart the database service.
> 
> For more information, see the MySQL docs on packet-too-large errors and the `max_allowed_packet` variable:
> 
> - [https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/packet-too-large.html](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/packet-too-large.html)
> - [https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/server-system-variables.html#sysvar\_max\_allowed\_packet](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/server-system-variables.html#sysvar_max_allowed_packet)

1. Open a terminal (macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows).

2. Execute one of these commands, replacing `DB_HOST`, `DB_PORT`, `DB_USER`, and `SPECIFY_DATABASE_NAME` with your values:

3. (Optional) Compress the dump to save space:

* * *

# Sending Your Backup to Specify

Once you have your `.sql`, `.sql.gz`, or `.zip` archive:

1. Go to our [Hightail page](https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/specify): [https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/specify](https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/specify)
2. Enter your email address and any notes.
3. Click **Select a file** , choose your backup archive, then click **Send It**.

The SCC support team will be notified automatically and can retrieve your file.