The db_dump and db_load utilities

The db_dump utility and the utility dump Berkeley DB databases into a flat-text representation of the data that can be read by db_load utility. The only difference between them is that the utility reads Berkeley DB version 2 and greater database formats, whereas the db_dump185 utility reads Berkeley DB version 1.85 and 1.86 database formats.

Dumping and reloading Hash databases that use user-defined hash functions will result in new databases that use the default hash function. Although using the default hash function may not be optimal for the new database, it will continue to work correctly.

The only available workaround for either Hash or Btree databases is to modify the sources for the utility to load the database using the correct hash, prefix, and comparison functions.