Shell closes before MySQL import completes

[Eunos]

I have a big database (over 3M posts) and when I try to run an import, it takes a very long time. The problem is, after 1 hour, the shell closed by itself, killing the import before it completed. I assume there is a keystroke inactivity timeout on the shell.

Should I try simply running the import in the background? E.g. -

mysql -u username -p dbname < db_file.sql &

Or is something else going on here?

[mlx]

Could be your firewall cutting the "idle" connection after X minutes.

Have a look at PuTTY's config: Connection -> Seconds between keepalives

Or use screen (http://www.freebsddiary.org/screen.php) to run the import.

[Eunos]

There is no firewall between me and the server.
Never mind - I'll just go to the monitor connected directly to the server and do it.