backup database

[chucklebutte]

I would like to make an exact copy of my forums and create a new database and use the new one for testing purposes.

I have made the new database in my cpanel, I use SMF forums and made a gzip backup from within the SMF admin panel of my forums. When I uploaded the gzip to the new database I had all my boards but no posts! Is there anyway to make a copy of my sql database and basically rewrite the testing database with my old one? Sorry if I sound like a stooge but my SQL knowledge is poor at best...

Any tips?

 

[galaxyAbstractor]

Could you try export the first database using phpMyAdmin instead of SMF, and then upload that to the new database, and see if that makes any difference?