what is database cloning?

Question

had been looking towards this "Database Cloning" quite many times.. is it anything different from simply creating a copy of the database... please tell me keeping MySQL in mind...

Answer 1

Definition from Wikipedia:

A database clone is a complete and separate copy of a database system that includes the business data, the DBMS software and any other application tiers that make up the environment. Cloning is a different kind of operation to replication and backups in that the cloned environment is both fully functional and separate in its own right. Additionally the cloned environment may be modified at its inception due to configuration changes or data subsetting.

MySQL Documentation for cloning database objects:

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/4.1/en/connector-net-visual-studio-cloning-database-objects.html