Tables CREATE TABLE ... TABLESPACE  syntax can be used in combination with the  DATA DIRECTORY  clause to create a table in an external directory. To do so, specify  innodb_file_per_table  as the tablespace name. This method is supported only for tables created in file-per-table tablespaces, but does not require the innodb_file_per_table  variable to be enabled. In all other respects, this method is equivalent to the CREATE TABLE ... DATA DIRECTORY  method described above. The same usage notes apply. You can create a table in a general tablespace that resides in an external directory. This section describes how to import tables using the  Transportable Tablespaces  feature, which permits importing tables, partitioned tables, or individual table partitions that reside in file-per-table tablespaces. There are many reasons why you might want to import tables: The  Transportable Tablespaces  feature is described under the following topics in this section: •Prerequisites •Importing Tables •Importing Partitioned Tables •Importing Table Partitions •Limitations •Usage Notes •To move a data to a server with storage media that is better suited to your storage requirements. For example, you might move busy tables to an SSD device, or move large tables to a high-capacity HDD device. •As a faster way of moving data than importing a dump file, which requires reinserting data and rebuilding indexes. •To restore a table from a backed-up tablespace file. •To copy data to a new replica server. •To run reports on a non-production MySQL server instance to avoid placing extra load on a production server. •For information about creating a general tablespace in an external directory, see Creating a General Tablespace. •For information about creating a table in a general tablespace, see Adding Tables to a General Tablespace. •As of MySQL 8.0.21, tables created in file-per-table tablespaces can no longer be created in the undo tablespace directory ( innodb_undo_directory ) unless that directly is known to  InnoDB . Known directories are those defined by the  datadir ,  innodb_data_home_dir , and  innodb_directories variables. Using CREATE TABLE ... TABLESPACE Syntax Creating a Table in an External General Tablespace 15.6.1.3 Importing InnoDB Tables 3020 mysql>  CREATE TABLE t2 (c1 INT PRIMARY KEY) TABLESPACE = innodb_file_per_table DATA DIRECTORY = ’/external/directory’;