# Backup and Restore

Since in migration-center all the critical data and configuration is saved in the database, only backing up the migration-center database schema is needed. 

## **Backup a migration-center database**

{% hint style="danger" %}
Before starting the backup process ensure that there are no scanners, importers, transformation / validation jobs and no scheduled jobs running
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To back up a database used by migration-center it is sufficient to back up only the data within the `FMEMC` schema. The easiest way to do this is with Oracle’s **EXP**. See screen shot below for the basic steps required to back up a schema. For more information consult the documentation provided by Oracle.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/o1eQLQuURgstOxu2ZCif/blobs/G3lZcM6zPbIZ3uGiNfF8/29.png)

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Starting with Oracle 11g release 2, the empty table might not be exported at all. This happens when the database parameter DEFERRED\_SEGMENT\_CREATION is set to TRUE. Initially this p~~ar~~ameter is set to TRUE. To force exporting all tables from the FMEMC schema the following commands should be run connected as user `FMEMC`:\
`ALTER TABLE SCHEDULER_RUNS ALLOCATE EXTENT;`\
`ALTER TABLE SCHEDULERS ALLOCATE EXTENT;`
{% endhint %}

## **Restore a migration-center database**

To restore the backup, follow the steps below:

1. If the database instance where the backup should be restored does not contain the `FMEMC` user, please create it first as it this describe in the [Installation Guide](https://docs.migration-center.com/25.1/install-migration-center#advanced-db-installation). 
2. Use Oracle’s “imp” utility for importing the dump file previously created by the “exp” utility. See screen shot below for the basic steps required to restore a database schema from a dump file. For more information consult the documentation provided by Oracle.

![](https://content.gitbook.com/content/o1eQLQuURgstOxu2ZCif/blobs/1RBIDCToDIz2Jp0jD94q/30.png)

{% hint style="warning" %}
The same character sets in the Oracle Client should be used when exporting and importing the data.
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