While this process will copy over the raw database files you may run into trouble running the rsync process when MySQL is running.

If the rsync completed sucessfully there shouldn’t be a concern with anything else but you can use mysqldump to migrate your database manually.

I ended up getting this to work I had initially created the smallest $5 droplet. Everything seemed to copy over ok but I guess there weren’t enough resources. I updated to the next one up, rebooted and all worked like charm :-)

Full write up for 2021: https://quartarian.medium.com/digital-ocean-downsizing-a-ubuntu-droplet-15ecb579d11d

Hello,

You can simply use the mysqldump command via ssh in order to export your databases and then copy them anywhere else (either locally or to another server) using scp or rsync.

The command will look like this:

mysqldump -u [username] -p [database-you-want-to-dump] > [path-to-place-data-dump]

So it could be something like this:

mysqldump -u root -p mydatabase > /home/myuser/database-dump.sql

You can check this article as well because everything is explained in detail:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-import-and-export-databases-in-mysql-or-mariadb

The link for the downgrade might have changed so use the link below.

https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/droplets/resources/downsize/

Regards,
Alex