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Databases

Each VIP Platform WordPress environment is supported by a unique database. Unique databases per-environment allows testing to be performed on non-production environments without impacting the production environment.

To improve database performance, WPVIP uses Automattic’s HyperDB db.php drop-in. HyperDB is configured to send writes to an environment’s master database and sends reads to database replicas. No other db.php drop-ins can be used on the platform.

The size of an environment’s database can be reviewed in the Database Backups panel or the Insights & Metrics panel of the VIP Dashboard.

  • Import database files

    Use VIP-CLI to import a full database file when migrating a site to the VIP Platform, or import a partial database file to update specific tables on a WordPress environment.

  • Custom database tables

    If necessary, custom tables can be added to a VIP Platform environment’s database. When adding a custom database table, use caution and follow best practices.

  • Supported character sets and collations

    In order to avoid unexpected issues, SQL database files for import should use the utf8mb4 character set.

  • Optimize database queries

    Learn how to identify slow queries and optimize the underlying code to improve site performance and resilience.

  • Database Backups

    Database Backups run automatically for all WordPress environments and can be viewed and downloaded in the application view of the VIP Dashboard and with VIP-CLI.

  • Partial Database Exports

    Partial Database Exports with VIP-CLI allow a custom set of data to be exported from the current state of a VIP Platform environment’s database.

  • Database access

    Direct access to an environment’s database is limited, but users can view data in a read-only phpMyAdmin console session or interact with the databases on WPVIP through WP-CLI commands run via VIP-CLI.

  • Data sync from production to non-production environments

    Data syncs from a production environment to a non-production environment can be performed in the VIP Dashboard or with VIP-CLI.

  • Export a SQL file from a site not hosted at WordPress VIP

    To migrate the content of a WordPress site to an environment on the WordPress VIP Platform, a SQL database file must be exported from the non-VIP site.

Last updated: December 29, 2025

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  • WordPress