---
title: "IceStorm Database Utility"
url: https://docs.zeroc.com/ice/3.8/services/icestorm/icestorm-database-utility
docs_index: https://docs.zeroc.com/llms.txt
---

> For an index of every page, see [llms.txt](https://docs.zeroc.com/llms.txt).

# IceStorm Database Utility

The `icestormdb` utility is a command-line tool for importing and exporting IceStorm databases.

## Usage

The IceStorm Database utility supports the following command-line options:

```text
Usage: icestormdb <options>
Options:
-h, --help             Show this message.
-v, --version          Display version.
--import FILE          Import database from FILE.
--export FILE          Export database to FILE.
--dbpath DIR           Source or target database environment.
--mapsize VALUE        Set LMDB map size in MB (optional, import only).
-d, --debug            Print debug messages.
```

## Exporting an IceStorm Database

To export an IceStorm database, use the `--export` option to specify the output file and the `--dbpath` option to specify the path name of the database. For example, use the following command to export a database found in the `db` directory to a file named `db.ixp`:

```shell
icestormdb --export db.ixp --dbpath db
```

> **Tip**
>
> You can export the database while IceStorm is running: `icestormdb` reads it in a single read-only transaction and does not block IceStorm. To copy the database files themselves, use the [mdb\_copy](https://manpages.org/mdb_copy) tool, which also works while IceStorm is running.

## Importing an IceStorm Database

To import an IceStorm database, use the `--import` option to specify the input file and the `--dbpath` option to specify the path name of the database. For example, use the following command to import a database into the `dbNew` directory from a file named `db.ixp`:

```shell
mkdir dbNew
icestormdb --import db.ixp --dbpath dbNew
```

The target directory must already exist and be empty.

### mapsize Option

The `--mapsize` option allows you to set the map size of the new LMDB database. See [IceStorm.LMDB.MapSize](https://docs.zeroc.com/ice/3.8/property-reference/icestorm-properties.md#icestorm.lmdb.mapsize) for additional information.

## Compatibility

Besides importing files that it creates itself, `icestormdb` can also import the files exported by older versions of this utility.