# How to populate a dev server with data from Production?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-populate-a-dev-server-with-data-from-production/95980
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [August 30, 2018, 9:07am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-populate-a-dev-server-with-data-from-production/95980 "2018-08-30T09:07:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 9:07am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-populate-a-dev-server-with-data-from-production/95980/1 "2018-08-30T09:07:41Z")
Guys,
I wonder if there is ‘correct way’ to upload some test data from a Production forum back-up into a dev server.
Obviously the dev server will lack a domain.
I’m using a cloud server for dev.
What are the gotchas here?
I guess it’s lacking Productions `app.yml` so there should be no risk of it shooting off emails?
Thanks! … Sorry! Found a guide here:
> [@Creating a duplicate of production environment](https://meta.discourse.org/t/creating-a-duplicate-of-production-environment/61966):
>
> I’m desperately trying to work out how to create a duplicate of our production system to allow testing of upgrades etc before taking it live. I’m hoping there is an easily reproducible set of steps to “export” the production system and then “import” into a new clear server. I’ve looked at a number of different threads but nothing seem to cover this. Is there a set of steps to duplicate a production system onto another machine with all data/attachements/etc in place ? Regards Henti
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### Author:  [@\_vincent](https://meta.discourse.org/u/_vincent)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2018, 9:25am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-populate-a-dev-server-with-data-from-production/95980/2 "2018-08-30T09:25:37Z")
Emails are disabled during an import. Once it is finished you can just use the `disable_emails` site setting.