NetBox uses [PostgreSQL](https://www.postgresql.org/) for its database, so general PostgreSQL best practices will apply to NetBox. You can dump and restore the database using the `pg_dump` and `psql` utilities, respectively.
!!! note
The examples below assume that your database is named `netbox`.
## Export the Database
```no-highlight
pg_dump netbox > netbox.sql
```
## Load an Exported Database
!!! warning
This will destroy and replace any existing instance of the database.
```no-highlight
psql -c 'drop database netbox'
psql -c 'create database netbox'
psql netbox <netbox.sql
```
Keep in mind that PostgreSQL user accounts and permissions are not included with the dump: You will need to create those manually if you want to fully replicate the original database (see the [installation docs](installation/1-postgresql.md)). When setting up a development instance of NetBox, it's strongly recommended to use different credentials anyway.
## Export the Database Schema
If you want to export only the database schema, and not the data itself (e.g. for development reference), do the following:
NetBox stored uploaded files (such as image attachments) in its media directory. To fully replicate an instance of NetBox, you'll need to copy both the database and the media files.
## Archive the Media Directory
Execute the following command from the root of the NetBox installation path (typically `/opt/netbox`):
```no-highlight
tar -czf netbox_media.tar.gz netbox/media/
```
## Restore the Media Directory
To extract the saved archive into a new installation, run the following from the installation root:
