Unable to make database dump in Plesk: Unknown column 'generation_expression' in 'field list' (1054)

Gabriel Aznarez

Updated May 31, 2023 08:12

Plesk for Windows kb: technical

Applicable to:

Create a 3rd-line, next time. It's incorrect that Pleks doesn't take it into account. At least bad error reporting.

Backup is finished with warnings. The following appears in Plesk Backup Manager:

PLESK_ERROR: Unable to make database dump. Error: Failed to exec mysqldump.exe: Exit code: 2: mysqldump.exe: Couldn't execute 'select column_name, extra, generation_expression, data_type from information_schema.columns where table_schema=database() and table_name='category'': Unknown column 'generation_expression' in 'field list' (1054)

The generation_expression column from the warning message is supported from MySQL 5.7, while the server is running an older version.

Migrate the domain to which the affected database belongs to a different server with MySQL 5.7 or the latest MariaDB version installed.

As workaround:

Install MariaDB 10.11 or later on the affected server

Create a full server snapshot of the server before proceeding to ensure that there is a restore point in case anything goes wrong. Contact System Administrator for details.
Open the Tools & Settings > Updates > Add/Remove Components > MySQL Server menu
Select the MariaDB 10.11 server and press Continue.

Warning: this operation will change the DB engine from MySQL 5.6 to the latest MariaDB 10.11 and will cause downtime of your server. We suggest performing it during maintenance hours.

Note: In case that the MySQL server (MariaDB) fails to start and cannot be repaired, restore the server to a snapshot created in step 1.

Install MariaDB 10.10 or lower on source and use its "mysqldump.exe" to mi re-migrate the affected database

Connect to the database source server via RDP.
Install MariaDB 10.10 or lower on the source server separately from outside Plesk.

Note: There is no need to install the full server package, as only client utilities are required.
Make a copy of original %plesk_dir%\MySQL\bin\mysqldump.exe file.
Copy mysqldump.exe from the installation directory of MariaDB10.10 to %plesk_dir%\MySQL\bin replacing the original one
Try to re-migrate the databases of the subscription of your choice.
Restore the mysqldump.exe copied on step 2 as %plesk_dir%\MySQL\bin\mysqldump.exe