Repository: github/gh-ost

Issue:
Allow a migration to resurrect under a new gh-ost process
We've [previously discussed in passing](https://github.com/github/gh-ost/issues/99#issuecomment-234613334) the potential to do this. Our conclusion at the time was that it would be possible, though not particularly useful. The use case that I had thought of at the time was resuming if a `gh-ost` process died.

I have a more interesting use case now, which is the desire to change `gh-ost` itself during a long migration.

As an example, if during the course of a 25 hour migration, I decide I want to change the value of a configuration option to something less than a hard coded minimum, I am out of luck. There are few of these hard coded configuration options, but I can imagine other times where a behavior change that would require a change in `gh-ost` itself could be beneficial to an ongoing migration.

@shlomi-noach, imagine having this in conjunction with branch deploys.

I would be happy to work on the development of this feature.


Discussion:
@SuperQ: I guess the easiest thing for this would be to write out a checkpoint file containing the necessary information.  It could be written to a `gh-ost` checkpoint table in mysql, but I think a local file would be better.
@pbitty: This would be a very nice feature to have.  We've been running migrations as jobs on our compute cluster.  We could treat this as a resumable job and wouldn't have to allocate a specific long-running host to run the job - if a host is set to be terminated and the job gets moved to a different host, it would just resume automagically.

I'd be happy to help develop/test this.

I would vote for having the checkpoint data stored in a table instead of a file, so the job itself doesn't need to keep any state.
@shlomi-noach: Terminology wise let's find a different name for this since pause/resume are already used to describe throttling/unthrottling.
@SuperQ: I would call it shutdown checkpoint and restart from checkpoint.
@shlomi-noach: In order to make that happen, a new invocation needs to have the context to a previously interrupted migration. On the grander scale, this must include:
- The last processed copy-range
- The last applied bin log position

On the finer scale we are also interested in:
- reading the unique-key by which migration chooses to iterate
- "last processed copy-range" must be **typed** values
- last applied bin log position -- not too very important. Turns out RBR is idempotent. OK to resume from an already applied position and re-apply it.
- For that matter, same goes for rowcopy-range. This means we don't strictly need fsync or two-phase commit for everything. Periodic flush of status is good enough.
- all configuration
- all calculated values (number of rows? applied rows? time estimate?)

I would go as far as to suggest that the entire [MigrationContext](https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/go/base/context.go#L46) struct should be dumped and restored. (also see https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go#L44)

Let's begin with dumping to file; let's begin with an interactive command such as `hibernate` or whatever, something orderly. Such that the next execution sees "oh there's a file indicating an interrupted migration". Let me read it, _delete it_ and proceed.
@SuperQ: :+1: Seems like a sensible plan to me.  Some google searching suggests that gob or json are the correct thing to write out.. I would suggest a text format like json.
@jonahberquist: Dumping everything in MigrationContext makes sense to me. 👍 

Something that I waned to note was that I mentioned wanting to change gh-ost and branch deploy mid-migration, and over the weekend I realized this was pure folly. Doing that throws away the whole concept we have of testing migrations and knowing that we have the correct data in the ghost table.

> let's begin with an interactive command such as `hibernate` or whatever, something orderly

👍 `hibernate` works for me

As for file vs table, I am inclined to put this in a table. I think it makes this feature more flexible. @pbitty's use case is a good one. Another would be a host failure where gh-ost is running.
@shlomi-noach: Following up on a discussion we had yesterday, an excellent use case for this feature is `gh-ost` bailing out on `critical-load`. Yesterday we had a 4 hour migration _legitimately failing_ having met `critical-load`. That was during the cut-over phase -- at the very end of the migration. No problem, we ran the migration again and it worked -- but it would have been _so nice_ if we could just resume from that point.

Point being: we don't see `gh-ost` crash unexpectedly, but it can bail out legitimately, in which case we might want to resume from same point in time.
@shlomi-noach: Hey we need terminology. "resurrect"?
@jonahberquist: > resurrect

Haha, that's more zombie than ghost, but yes, I think we found it.


Solution patch:
diff --git a/doc/command-line-flags.md b/doc/command-line-flags.md
index 7b5efd9..c706a4f 100644
--- a/doc/command-line-flags.md
+++ b/doc/command-line-flags.md
@@ -64,6 +64,15 @@ It is not reliable to parse the `ALTER` statement to determine if it is instant
 ### binlogsyncer-max-reconnect-attempts
 `--binlogsyncer-max-reconnect-attempts=0`, the maximum number of attempts to re-establish a broken inspector connection for sync binlog. `0` or `negative number` means infinite retry, default `0`
 
+### checkpoint
+
+`--checkpoint` enables periodic checkpoints of the gh-ost's state so that gh-ost can resume a migration from the checkpoint with `--resume`. Checkpoints are written to a separate table named `_${original_table_name}_ghk`. It is recommended to use with `--gtid` for checkpoints.
+See also: [`resuming-migrations`](resume.md)
+
+### checkpoint-seconds
+
+`--checkpoint-seconds` specifies the seconds between checkpoints. Default is 300.
+
 ### conf
 
 `--conf=/path/to/my.cnf`: file where credentials are specified. Should be in (or contain) the following format:
@@ -226,6 +235,11 @@ Optionally involve the process ID, for example: `--replica-server-id=$((10000000
 It's on you to choose a number that does not collide with another `gh-ost` or another running replica.
 See also: [`concurrent-migrations`](cheatsheet.md#concurrent-migrations) on the cheatsheet.
 
+### resume
+
+`--resume` attempts to resume a migration that was previously interrupted from the last checkpoint. The first `gh-ost` invocation must run with `--checkpoint` and have successfully written a checkpoint in order for `--resume` to work.
+See also: [`resuming-migrations`](resume.md)
+
 ### serve-socket-file
 
 Defaults to an auto-determined and advertised upon startup file. Defines Unix socket file to serve on.
diff --git a/doc/resume.md b/doc/resume.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46d6ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/resume.md
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Resuming Migrations
+
+`gh-ost` can attempt to resume an interrupted migration from a checkpoint if the following conditions are met:
+- The first `gh-ost` process was invoked with `--checkpoint`
+- The first `gh-ost` process had at least one successful checkpoint
+- The binlogs from the last checkpoint's binlog coordinates still exist on the replica gh-ost is inspecting (specified by `--host`)
+
+To resume, invoke `gh-ost` again with the same arguments with the `--resume` flag.
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> It is recommended use `--checkpoint` with `--gtid` enabled so that checkpoint binlog coordinates store GTID sets rather than file positions. In that case, `gh-ost` can resume using a different replica than it originally attached to.
+
+## Example
+The migration starts with a `gh-ost` invocation such as:
+```shell
+gh-ost \
+--chunk-size=100 \
+--host=replica1.company.com \
+--database="mydb" \
+--table="mytable" \
+--alter="add column mycol varchar(20)"
+--gtid \
+--checkpoint \
+--checkpoint-seconds=60 \
+--execute
+```
+
+In this example `gh-ost` writes a checkpoint to a table `_mytable_ghk` every 60 seconds. After `gh-ost` is interrupted/killed, the migration can be resumed with:
+```shell
+# resume migration
+gh-ost \
+--chunk-size=100
+--host=replica1.company.com \
+--database="mydb" \
+--table="mytable" \
+--alter="add column mycol varchar(20)"
+--gtid \
+--resume \
+--execute
+```
+
+`gh-ost` then reconnects at the binlog coordinates of the last checkpoint and resumes copying rows at the chunk specified by the checkpoint. The data integrity of the ghost table is preserved because `gh-ost` applies row DMLs and copies row in an idempotent way.
diff --git a/go/base/context.go b/go/base/context.go
index 0a1cae7..35030e3 100644
--- a/go/base/context.go
+++ b/go/base/context.go
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ type MigrationContext struct {
 	GoogleCloudPlatform      bool
 	AzureMySQL               bool
 	AttemptInstantDDL        bool
+	Resume                   bool
 
 	// SkipPortValidation allows skipping the port validation in `ValidateConnection`
 	// This is useful when connecting to a MySQL instance where the external port
@@ -153,6 +154,8 @@ type MigrationContext struct {
 	HooksHintToken                      string
 	HooksStatusIntervalSec              int64
 	PanicOnWarnings                     bool
+	Checkpoint                          bool
+	CheckpointIntervalSeconds           int64
 
 	DropServeSocket bool
 	ServeSocketFile string
@@ -239,6 +242,7 @@ type MigrationContext struct {
 	Iteration                        int64
 	MigrationIterationRangeMinValues *sql.ColumnValues
 	MigrationIterationRangeMaxValues *sql.ColumnValues
+	InitialStreamerCoords            mysql.BinlogCoordinates
 	ForceTmpTableName                string
 
 	IncludeTriggers     bool
@@ -380,6 +384,15 @@ func (this *MigrationContext) GetChangelogTableName() string {
 	}
 }
 
+// GetCheckpointTableName generates the name of checkpoint table.
+func (this *MigrationContext) GetCheckpointTableName() string {
+	if this.ForceTmpTableName != "" {
+		return getSafeTableName(this.ForceTmpTableName, "ghk")
+	} else {
+		return getSafeTableName(this.OriginalTableName, "ghk")
+	}
+}
+
 // GetVoluntaryLockName returns a name of a voluntary lock to be used throughout
 // the swap-tables process.
 func (this *MigrationContext) GetVoluntaryLockName() string {
diff --git a/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go b/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go
index 6391cf4..0a2a8af 100644
--- a/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go
+++ b/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ func main() {
 	flag.StringVar(&migrationContext.TriggerSuffix, "trigger-suffix", "", "Add a suffix to the trigger name (i.e '_v2'). Requires '--include-triggers'")
 	flag.BoolVar(&migrationContext.RemoveTriggerSuffix, "remove-trigger-suffix-if-exists", false, "Remove given suffix from name of trigger. Requires '--include-triggers' and '--trigger-suffix'")
 	flag.BoolVar(&migrationContext.SkipPortValidation, "skip-port-validation", false, "Skip port validation for MySQL connections")
+	flag.BoolVar(&migrationContext.Checkpoint, "checkpoint", false, "Enable migration checkpoints")
+	flag.Int64Var(&migrationContext.CheckpointIntervalSeconds, "checkpoint-seconds", 300, "The number of seconds between checkpoints")
+	flag.BoolVar(&migrationContext.Resume, "resume", false, "Attempt to resume migration from checkpoint")
 
 	maxLoad := flag.String("max-load", "", "Comma delimited status-name=threshold. e.g: 'Threads_running=100,Threads_connected=500'. When status exceeds threshold, app throttles writes")
 	criticalLoad := flag.String("critical-load", "", "Comma delimited status-name=threshold, same format as --max-load. When status exceeds threshold, app panics and quits")
@@ -284,6 +287,9 @@ func main() {
 	if *storageEngine == "rocksdb" {
 		migrationContext.Log.Warning("RocksDB storage engine support is experimental")
 	}
+	if migrationContext.CheckpointIntervalSeconds < 10 {
+		migrationContext.Log.Fatalf("--checkpoint-seconds should be >=10")
+	}
 
 	switch *cutOver {
 	case "atomic", "default", "":
@@ -316,6 +322,7 @@ func main() {
 		}
 		migrationContext.CliPassword = string(bytePassword)
 	}
+
 	migrationContext.SetHeartbeatIntervalMilliseconds(*heartbeatIntervalMillis)
 	migrationContext.SetNiceRatio(*niceRatio)
 	migrationContext.SetChunkSize(*chunkSize)
diff --git a/go/logic/applier.go b/go/logic/applier.go
index 30ac976..3fe7f22 100644
--- a/go/logic/applier.go
+++ b/go/logic/applier.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-   Copyright 2021 GitHub Inc.
+   Copyright 2025 GitHub Inc.
 	 See https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/LICENSE
 */
 
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql/driver"
 
+	"errors"
+	"sync"
+
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/mysql"
 	drivermysql "github.com/go-sql-driver/mysql"
 	"github.com/openark/golib/sqlutils"
@@ -31,6 +34,9 @@ const (
 	atomicCutOverMagicHint     = "ghost-cut-over-sentry"
 )
 
+// ErrNoCheckpointFound is returned when an empty checkpoint table is queried.
+var ErrNoCheckpointFound = errors.New("no checkpoint found in _ghk table")
+
 type dmlBuildResult struct {
 	query     string
 	args      []interface{}
@@ -66,9 +72,17 @@ type Applier struct {
 	finishedMigrating int64
 	name              string
 
-	dmlDeleteQueryBuilder *sql.DMLDeleteQueryBuilder
-	dmlInsertQueryBuilder *sql.DMLInsertQueryBuilder
-	dmlUpdateQueryBuilder *sql.DMLUpdateQueryBuilder
+	CurrentCoordinatesMutex sync.Mutex
+	CurrentCoordinates      mysql.BinlogCoordinates
+
+	LastIterationRangeMutex     sync.Mutex
+	LastIterationRangeMinValues *sql.ColumnValues
+	LastIterationRangeMaxValues *sql.ColumnValues
+
+	dmlDeleteQueryBuilder        *sql.DMLDeleteQueryBuilder
+	dmlInsertQueryBuilder        *sql.DMLInsertQueryBuilder
+	dmlUpdateQueryBuilder        *sql.DMLUpdateQueryBuilder
+	checkpointInsertQueryBuilder *sql.CheckpointInsertQueryBuilder
 }
 
 func NewApplier(migrationContext *base.MigrationContext) *Applier {
@@ -144,6 +158,15 @@ func (this *Applier) prepareQueries() (err error) {
 	); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if this.migrationContext.Checkpoint {
+		if this.checkpointInsertQueryBuilder, err = sql.NewCheckpointQueryBuilder(
+			this.migrationContext.DatabaseName,
+			this.migrationContext.GetCheckpointTableName(),
+			&this.migrationContext.UniqueKey.Columns,
+		); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -400,6 +423,54 @@ func (this *Applier) CreateChangelogTable() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// Create the checkpoint table to store the chunk copy and applier state.
+// There are two sets of columns with the same types as the shared unique key,
+// one for IterationMinValues and one for IterationMaxValues.
+func (this *Applier) CreateCheckpointTable() error {
+	if err := this.DropCheckpointTable(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	colDefs := []string{
+		"`gh_ost_chk_id` bigint auto_increment primary key",
+		"`gh_ost_chk_timestamp` bigint",
+		"`gh_ost_chk_coords` varchar(4096)",
+		"`gh_ost_chk_iteration` bigint",
+		"`gh_ost_rows_copied` bigint",
+		"`gh_ost_dml_applied` bigint",
+	}
+	for _, col := range this.migrationContext.UniqueKey.Columns.Columns() {
+		if col.MySQLType == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("CreateCheckpoinTable: column %s has no type information. applyColumnTypes must be called", sql.EscapeName(col.Name))
+		}
+		minColName := sql.TruncateColumnName(col.Name, sql.MaxColumnNameLength-4) + "_min"
+		colDef := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", sql.EscapeName(minColName), col.MySQLType)
+		if !col.Nullable {
+			colDef += " NOT NULL"
+		}
+		colDefs = append(colDefs, colDef)
+	}
+
+	for _, col := range this.migrationContext.UniqueKey.Columns.Columns() {
+		maxColName := sql.TruncateColumnName(col.Name, sql.MaxColumnNameLength-4) + "_max"
+		colDef := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", sql.EscapeName(maxColName), col.MySQLType)
+		if !col.Nullable {
+			colDef += " NOT NULL"
+		}
+		colDefs = append(colDefs, colDef)
+	}
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf("create /* gh-ost */ table %s.%s (\n %s\n)",
+		sql.EscapeName(this.migrationContext.DatabaseName),
+		sql.EscapeName(this.migrationContext.GetCheckpointTableName()),
+		strings.Join(colDefs, ",\n "),
+	)
+	this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("Created checkpoint table")
+	if _, err := sqlutils.ExecNoPrepare(this.db, query); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // dropTable drops a given table on the applied host
 func (this *Applier) dropTable(tableName string) error {
 	query := fmt.Sprintf(`drop /* gh-ost */ table if exists %s.%s`,
@@ -494,6 +565,11 @@ func (this *Applier) DropChangelogTable() error {
 	return this.dropTable(this.migrationContext.GetChangelogTableName())
 }
 
+// DropCheckpointTable drops the checkpoint table on applier host
+func (this *Applier) DropCheckpointTable() error {
+	return this.dropTable(this.migrationContext.GetCheckpointTableName())
+}
+
 // DropOldTable drops the _Old table on the applier host
 func (this *Applier) DropOldTable() error {
 	return this.dropTable(this.migrationContext.GetOldTableName())
@@ -542,6 +618,60 @@ func (this *Applier) WriteChangelogState(value string) (string, error) {
 	return this.WriteAndLogChangelog("state", value)
 }
 
+// WriteCheckpoints writes a checkpoint to the _ghk table.
+func (this *Applier) WriteCheckpoint(chk *Checkpoint) (int64, error) {
+	var insertId int64
+	uniqueKeyArgs := sqlutils.Args(chk.IterationRangeMin.AbstractValues()...)
+	uniqueKeyArgs = append(uniqueKeyArgs, chk.IterationRangeMax.AbstractValues()...)
+	query, uniqueKeyArgs, err := this.checkpointInsertQueryBuilder.BuildQuery(uniqueKeyArgs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return insertId, err
+	}
+	args := sqlutils.Args(chk.LastTrxCoords.String(), chk.Iteration, chk.RowsCopied, chk.DMLApplied)
+	args = append(args, uniqueKeyArgs...)
+	res, err := this.db.Exec(query, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return insertId, err
+	}
+	return res.LastInsertId()
+}
+
+func (this *Applier) ReadLastCheckpoint() (*Checkpoint, error) {
+	row := this.db.QueryRow(fmt.Sprintf(`select /* gh-ost */ * from %s.%s order by gh_ost_chk_id desc limit 1`, this.migrationContext.DatabaseName, this.migrationContext.GetCheckpointTableName()))
+	chk := &Checkpoint{
+		IterationRangeMin: sql.NewColumnValues(this.migrationContext.UniqueKey.Columns.Len()),
+		IterationRangeMax: sql.NewColumnValues(this.migrationContext.UniqueKey.Columns.Len()),
+	}
+
+	var coordStr string
+	var timestamp int64
+	ptrs := []interface{}{&chk.Id, &timestamp, &coordStr, &chk.Iteration, &chk.RowsCopied, &chk.DMLApplied}
+	ptrs = append(ptrs, chk.IterationRangeMin.ValuesPointers...)
+	ptrs = append(ptrs, chk.IterationRangeMax.ValuesPointers...)
+	err := row.Scan(ptrs...)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, gosql.ErrNoRows) {
+			return nil, ErrNoCheckpointFound
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	chk.Timestamp = time.Unix(timestamp, 0)
+	if this.migrationContext.UseGTIDs {
+		gtidCoords, err := mysql.NewGTIDBinlogCoordinates(coordStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		chk.LastTrxCoords = gtidCoords
+	} else {
+		fileCoords, err := mysql.ParseFileBinlogCoordinates(coordStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		chk.LastTrxCoords = fileCoords
+	}
+	return chk, nil
+}
+
 // InitiateHeartbeat creates a heartbeat cycle, writing to the changelog table.
 // This is done asynchronously
 func (this *Applier) InitiateHeartbeat() {
@@ -686,8 +816,15 @@ func (this *Applier) ReadMigrationRangeValues() error {
 // CalculateNextIterationRangeEndValues reads the next-iteration-range-end unique key values,
 // which will be used for copying the next chunk of rows. Ir returns "false" if there is
 // no further chunk to work through, i.e. we're past the last chunk and are done with
-// iterating the range (and this done with copying row chunks)
+// iterating the range (and thus done with copying row chunks)
 func (this *Applier) CalculateNextIterationRangeEndValues() (hasFurtherRange bool, err error) {
+	this.LastIterationRangeMutex.Lock()
+	if this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMinValues != nil && this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMaxValues != nil {
+		this.LastIterationRangeMinValues = this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMinValues.Clone()
+		this.LastIterationRangeMaxValues = this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMaxValues.Clone()
+	}
+	this.LastIterationRangeMutex.Unlock()
+
 	this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMinValues = this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMaxValues
 	if this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMinValues == nil {
 		this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMinValues = this.migrationContext.MigrationRangeMinValues
diff --git a/go/logic/checkpoint.go b/go/logic/checkpoint.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69cc2bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go/logic/checkpoint.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/*
+   Copyright 2025 GitHub Inc.
+	 See https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/LICENSE
+*/
+
+package logic
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/mysql"
+	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/sql"
+)
+
+// Checkpoint holds state necessary to resume a migration.
+type Checkpoint struct {
+	Id        int64
+	Timestamp time.Time
+	// LastTrxCoords are coordinates of a transaction
+	// that has been applied on ghost table.
+	LastTrxCoords mysql.BinlogCoordinates
+	// IterationRangeMin is the min shared key value
+	// for the chunk copier range.
+	IterationRangeMin *sql.ColumnValues
+	// IterationRangeMax is the max shared key value
+	// for the chunk copier range.
+	IterationRangeMax *sql.ColumnValues
+	Iteration         int64
+	RowsCopied        int64
+	DMLApplied        int64
+}
diff --git a/go/logic/inspect.go b/go/logic/inspect.go
index 7a7dc84..0443601 100644
--- a/go/logic/inspect.go
+++ b/go/logic/inspect.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-   Copyright 2022 GitHub Inc.
+   Copyright 2025 GitHub Inc.
 	 See https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/LICENSE
 */
 
@@ -711,12 +711,17 @@ func (this *Inspector) applyColumnTypes(databaseName, tableName string, columnsL
 		columnName := m.GetString("COLUMN_NAME")
 		columnType := m.GetString("COLUMN_TYPE")
 		columnOctetLength := m.GetUint("CHARACTER_OCTET_LENGTH")
+		isNullable := m.GetString("IS_NULLABLE")
 		extra := m.GetString("EXTRA")
 		for _, columnsList := range columnsLists {
 			column := columnsList.GetColumn(columnName)
 			if column == nil {
 				continue
 			}
+			column.MySQLType = columnType
+			if isNullable == "YES" {
+				column.Nullable = true
+			}
 
 			if strings.Contains(columnType, "unsigned") {
 				column.IsUnsigned = true
diff --git a/go/logic/migrator.go b/go/logic/migrator.go
index 4d7074b..33271d0 100644
--- a/go/logic/migrator.go
+++ b/go/logic/migrator.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-   Copyright 2022 GitHub Inc.
+   Copyright 2025 GitHub Inc.
 	 See https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/LICENSE
 */
 
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ var (
 	ErrMigratorUnsupportedRenameAlter = errors.New("ALTER statement seems to RENAME the table. This is not supported, and you should run your RENAME outside gh-ost.")
 	ErrMigrationNotAllowedOnMaster    = errors.New("It seems like this migration attempt to run directly on master. Preferably it would be executed on a replica (this reduces load from the master). To proceed please provide --allow-on-master.")
 	RetrySleepFn                      = time.Sleep
+	checkpointTimeout                 = 2 * time.Second
 )
 
 type ChangelogState string
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ type tableWriteFunc func() error
 type applyEventStruct struct {
 	writeFunc *tableWriteFunc
 	dmlEvent  *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent
+	coords    mysql.BinlogCoordinates
 }
 
 func newApplyEventStructByFunc(writeFunc *tableWriteFunc) *applyEventStruct {
@@ -53,8 +55,8 @@ func newApplyEventStructByFunc(writeFunc *tableWriteFunc) *applyEventStruct {
 	return result
 }
 
-func newApplyEventStructByDML(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) *applyEventStruct {
-	result := &applyEventStruct{dmlEvent: dmlEvent}
+func newApplyEventStructByDML(dmlEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) *applyEventStruct {
+	result := &applyEventStruct{dmlEvent: dmlEntry.DmlEvent, coords: dmlEntry.Coordinates}
 	return result
 }
 
@@ -91,8 +93,6 @@ type Migrator struct {
 	copyRowsQueue    chan tableWriteFunc
 	applyEventsQueue chan *applyEventStruct
 
-	handledChangelogStates map[string]bool
-
 	finishedMigrating int64
 }
 
@@ -107,10 +107,9 @@ func NewMigrator(context *base.MigrationContext, appVersion string) *Migrator {
 		rowCopyComplete:            make(chan error),
 		allEventsUpToLockProcessed: make(chan string),
 
-		copyRowsQueue:          make(chan tableWriteFunc),
-		applyEventsQueue:       make(chan *applyEventStruct, base.MaxEventsBatchSize),
-		handledChangelogStates: make(map[string]bool),
-		finishedMigrating:      0,
+		copyRowsQueue:     make(chan tableWriteFunc),
+		applyEventsQueue:  make(chan *applyEventStruct, base.MaxEventsBatchSize),
+		finishedMigrating: 0,
 	}
 	return migrator
 }
@@ -201,20 +200,20 @@ func (this *Migrator) canStopStreaming() bool {
 }
 
 // onChangelogEvent is called when a binlog event operation on the changelog table is intercepted.
-func (this *Migrator) onChangelogEvent(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) (err error) {
+func (this *Migrator) onChangelogEvent(dmlEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) (err error) {
 	// Hey, I created the changelog table, I know the type of columns it has!
-	switch hint := dmlEvent.NewColumnValues.StringColumn(2); hint {
+	switch hint := dmlEntry.DmlEvent.NewColumnValues.StringColumn(2); hint {
 	case "state":
-		return this.onChangelogStateEvent(dmlEvent)
+		return this.onChangelogStateEvent(dmlEntry)
 	case "heartbeat":
-		return this.onChangelogHeartbeatEvent(dmlEvent)
+		return this.onChangelogHeartbeatEvent(dmlEntry)
 	default:
 		return nil
 	}
 }
 
-func (this *Migrator) onChangelogStateEvent(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) (err error) {
-	changelogStateString := dmlEvent.NewColumnValues.StringColumn(3)
+func (this *Migrator) onChangelogStateEvent(dmlEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) (err error) {
+	changelogStateString := dmlEntry.DmlEvent.NewColumnValues.StringColumn(3)
 	changelogState := ReadChangelogState(changelogStateString)
 	this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("Intercepted changelog state %s", changelogState)
 	switch changelogState {
@@ -242,14 +241,17 @@ func (this *Migrator) onChangelogStateEvent(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) (er
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (this *Migrator) onChangelogHeartbeatEvent(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) (err error) {
-	changelogHeartbeatString := dmlEvent.NewColumnValues.StringColumn(3)
+func (this *Migrator) onChangelogHeartbeatEvent(dmlEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) (err error) {
+	changelogHeartbeatString := dmlEntry.DmlEvent.NewColumnValues.StringColumn(3)
 
 	heartbeatTime, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339Nano, changelogHeartbeatString)
 	if err != nil {
 		return this.migrationContext.Log.Errore(err)
 	} else {
 		this.migrationContext.SetLastHeartbeatOnChangelogTime(heartbeatTime)
+		this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Lock()
+		this.applier.CurrentCoordinates = dmlEntry.Coordinates
+		this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Unlock()
 		return nil
 	}
 }
@@ -352,8 +354,14 @@ func (this *Migrator) Migrate() (err error) {
 	if err := this.initiateInspector(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := this.initiateStreaming(); err != nil {
-		return err
+	// If we are resuming, we will initiateStreaming later when we know
+	// the coordinates to resume streaming.
+	// If not resuming, the streamer must be initiated before the applier,
+	// so that the "GhostTableMigrated" event gets processed.
+	if !this.migrationContext.Resume {
+		if err := this.initiateStreaming(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	if err := this.initiateApplier(); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -384,9 +392,11 @@ func (this *Migrator) Migrate() (err error) {
 	}
 
 	initialLag, _ := this.inspector.getReplicationLag()
-	this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("Waiting for ghost table to be migrated. Current lag is %+v", initialLag)
-	<-this.ghostTableMigrated
-	this.migrationContext.Log.Debugf("ghost table migrated")
+	if !this.migrationContext.Resume {
+		this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("Waiting for ghost table to be migrated. Current lag is %+v", initialLag)
+		<-this.ghostTableMigrated
+		this.migrationContext.Log.Debugf("ghost table migrated")
+	}
 	// Yay! We now know the Ghost and Changelog tables are good to examine!
 	// When running on replica, this means the replica has those tables. When running
 	// on master this is always true, of course, and yet it also implies this knowledge
@@ -394,10 +404,38 @@ func (this *Migrator) Migrate() (err error) {
 	if err := this.inspector.inspectOriginalAndGhostTables(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	// We can prepare some of the queries on the applier
 	if err := this.applier.prepareQueries(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
+	// inspectOriginalAndGhostTables must be called before creating checkpoint table.
+	if this.migrationContext.Checkpoint && !this.migrationContext.Resume {
+		if err := this.applier.CreateCheckpointTable(); err != nil {
+			this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to create checkpoint table, see further error details.")
+		}
+	}
+
+	if this.migrationContext.Resume {
+		lastCheckpoint, err := this.applier.ReadLastCheckpoint()
+		if err != nil {
+			return this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("No checkpoint found, unable to resume: %+v", err)
+		}
+		this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("Resuming from checkpoint coords=%+v range_min=%+v range_max=%+v iteration=%d",
+			lastCheckpoint.LastTrxCoords, lastCheckpoint.IterationRangeMin.String(), lastCheckpoint.IterationRangeMax.String(), lastCheckpoint.Iteration)
+
+		this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMinValues = lastCheckpoint.IterationRangeMin
+		this.migrationContext.MigrationIterationRangeMaxValues = lastCheckpoint.IterationRangeMax
+		this.migrationContext.Iteration = lastCheckpoint.Iteration
+		this.migrationContext.TotalRowsCopied = lastCheckpoint.RowsCopied
+		this.migrationContext.TotalDMLEventsApplied = lastCheckpoint.DMLApplied
+		this.migrationContext.InitialStreamerCoords = lastCheckpoint.LastTrxCoords
+		if err := this.initiateStreaming(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Validation complete! We're good to execute this migration
 	if err := this.hooksExecutor.onValidated(); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -427,6 +465,9 @@ func (this *Migrator) Migrate() (err error) {
 	go this.iterateChunks()
 	this.migrationContext.MarkRowCopyStartTime()
 	go this.initiateStatus()
+	if this.migrationContext.Checkpoint {
+		go this.checkpointLoop()
+	}
 
 	this.migrationContext.Log.Debugf("Operating until row copy is complete")
 	this.consumeRowCopyComplete()
@@ -1082,7 +1123,7 @@ func (this *Migrator) printStatus(rule PrintStatusRule, writers ...io.Writer) {
 		atomic.LoadInt64(&this.migrationContext.TotalDMLEventsApplied),
 		len(this.applyEventsQueue), cap(this.applyEventsQueue),
 		base.PrettifyDurationOutput(elapsedTime), base.PrettifyDurationOutput(this.migrationContext.ElapsedRowCopyTime()),
-		currentBinlogCoordinates,
+		currentBinlogCoordinates.DisplayString(),
 		this.migrationContext.GetCurrentLagDuration().Seconds(),
 		this.migrationContext.TimeSinceLastHeartbeatOnChangelog().Seconds(),
 		state,
@@ -1119,8 +1160,8 @@ func (this *Migrator) initiateStreaming() error {
 		false,
 		this.migrationContext.DatabaseName,
 		this.migrationContext.GetChangelogTableName(),
-		func(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) error {
-			return this.onChangelogEvent(dmlEvent)
+		func(dmlEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) error {
+			return this.onChangelogEvent(dmlEntry)
 		},
 	)
 
@@ -1153,8 +1194,8 @@ func (this *Migrator) addDMLEventsListener() error {
 		false,
 		this.migrationContext.DatabaseName,
 		this.migrationContext.OriginalTableName,
-		func(dmlEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) error {
-			this.applyEventsQueue <- newApplyEventStructByDML(dmlEvent)
+		func(dmlEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) error {
+			this.applyEventsQueue <- newApplyEventStructByDML(dmlEntry)
 			return nil
 		},
 	)
@@ -1179,32 +1220,33 @@ func (this *Migrator) initiateApplier() error {
 	if err := this.applier.InitDBConnections(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := this.applier.ValidateOrDropExistingTables(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := this.applier.CreateChangelogTable(); err != nil {
-		this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to create changelog table, see further error details. Perhaps a previous migration failed without dropping the table? OR is there a running migration? Bailing out")
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := this.applier.CreateGhostTable(); err != nil {
-		this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to create ghost table, see further error details. Perhaps a previous migration failed without dropping the table? Bailing out")
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err := this.applier.AlterGhost(); err != nil {
-		this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to ALTER ghost table, see further error details. Bailing out")
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if this.migrationContext.OriginalTableAutoIncrement > 0 && !this.parser.IsAutoIncrementDefined() {
-		// Original table has AUTO_INCREMENT value and the -alter statement does not indicate any override,
-		// so we should copy AUTO_INCREMENT value onto our ghost table.
-		if err := this.applier.AlterGhostAutoIncrement(); err != nil {
-			this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to ALTER ghost table AUTO_INCREMENT value, see further error details. Bailing out")
+	if !this.migrationContext.Resume {
+		if err := this.applier.ValidateOrDropExistingTables(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := this.applier.CreateChangelogTable(); err != nil {
+			this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to create changelog table, see further error details. Perhaps a previous migration failed without dropping the table? OR is there a running migration? Bailing out")
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := this.applier.CreateGhostTable(); err != nil {
+			this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to create ghost table, see further error details. Perhaps a previous migration failed without dropping the table? Bailing out")
 			return err
 		}
+		if err := this.applier.AlterGhost(); err != nil {
+			this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to ALTER ghost table, see further error details. Bailing out")
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if this.migrationContext.OriginalTableAutoIncrement > 0 && !this.parser.IsAutoIncrementDefined() {
+			// Original table has AUTO_INCREMENT value and the -alter statement does not indicate any override,
+			// so we should copy AUTO_INCREMENT value onto our ghost table.
+			if err := this.applier.AlterGhostAutoIncrement(); err != nil {
+				this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to ALTER ghost table AUTO_INCREMENT value, see further error details. Bailing out")
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+		this.applier.WriteChangelogState(string(GhostTableMigrated))
 	}
-	this.applier.WriteChangelogState(string(GhostTableMigrated))
 	if err := this.applier.StateMetadataLockInstrument(); err != nil {
 		this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("Unable to enable metadata lock instrument, see further error details. Bailing out")
 		return err
@@ -1339,6 +1381,11 @@ func (this *Migrator) onApplyEventStruct(eventStruct *applyEventStruct) error {
 		if err := this.retryOperation(applyEventFunc); err != nil {
 			return this.migrationContext.Log.Errore(err)
 		}
+		// update applier coordinates
+		this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Lock()
+		this.applier.CurrentCoordinates = eventStruct.coords
+		this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Unlock()
+
 		if nonDmlStructToApply != nil {
 			// We pulled DML events from the queue, and then we hit a non-DML event. Wait!
 			// We need to handle it!
@@ -1350,6 +1397,72 @@ func (this *Migrator) onApplyEventStruct(eventStruct *applyEventStruct) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// Checkpoint attempts to write a checkpoint of the Migrator's current state.
+// It gets the binlog coordinates of the last received trx and waits until the
+// applier reaches that trx. At that point it's safe to resume from these coordinates.
+func (this *Migrator) Checkpoint(ctx context.Context) (*Checkpoint, error) {
+	coords := this.eventsStreamer.GetCurrentBinlogCoordinates()
+	this.applier.LastIterationRangeMutex.Lock()
+	if this.applier.LastIterationRangeMaxValues == nil || this.applier.LastIterationRangeMinValues == nil {
+		this.applier.LastIterationRangeMutex.Unlock()
+		return nil, errors.New("iteration range is empty, not checkpointing...")
+	}
+	chk := &Checkpoint{
+		Iteration:         this.migrationContext.GetIteration(),
+		IterationRangeMin: this.applier.LastIterationRangeMinValues.Clone(),
+		IterationRangeMax: this.applier.LastIterationRangeMaxValues.Clone(),
+		LastTrxCoords:     coords,
+		RowsCopied:        atomic.LoadInt64(&this.migrationContext.TotalRowsCopied),
+		DMLApplied:        atomic.LoadInt64(&this.migrationContext.TotalDMLEventsApplied),
+	}
+	this.applier.LastIterationRangeMutex.Unlock()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil, ctx.Err()
+		default:
+			this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Lock()
+			if coords.SmallerThanOrEquals(this.applier.CurrentCoordinates) {
+				id, err := this.applier.WriteCheckpoint(chk)
+				chk.Id = id
+				this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Unlock()
+				return chk, err
+			}
+			this.applier.CurrentCoordinatesMutex.Unlock()
+			time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (this *Migrator) checkpointLoop() {
+	if this.migrationContext.Noop {
+		this.migrationContext.Log.Debugf("Noop operation; not really checkpointing")
+		return
+	}
+	checkpointInterval := time.Duration(this.migrationContext.CheckpointIntervalSeconds) * time.Second
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(checkpointInterval)
+	for t := range ticker.C {
+		if atomic.LoadInt64(&this.finishedMigrating) > 0 {
+			return
+		}
+		this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("starting checkpoint at %+v", t)
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), checkpointTimeout)
+		chk, err := this.Checkpoint(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) {
+				this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("checkpoint attempt timed out after %+v", checkpointTimeout)
+			} else {
+				this.migrationContext.Log.Errorf("error attempting checkpoint: %+v", err)
+			}
+		} else {
+			this.migrationContext.Log.Infof("checkpoint success at coords=%+v range_min=%+v range_max=%+v iteration=%d",
+				chk.LastTrxCoords.DisplayString(), chk.IterationRangeMin.String(), chk.IterationRangeMax.String(), chk.Iteration)
+		}
+		cancel()
+	}
+}
+
 // executeWriteFuncs writes data via applier: both the rowcopy and the events backlog.
 // This is where the ghost table gets the data. The function fills the data single-threaded.
 // Both event backlog and rowcopy events are polled; the backlog events have precedence.
@@ -1428,6 +1541,9 @@ func (this *Migrator) finalCleanup() error {
 	if err := this.retryOperation(this.applier.DropChangelogTable); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := this.retryOperation(this.applier.DropCheckpointTable); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if this.migrationContext.OkToDropTable && !this.migrationContext.TestOnReplica {
 		if err := this.retryOperation(this.applier.DropOldTable); err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/go/logic/streamer.go b/go/logic/streamer.go
index fd0240f..63afc3f 100644
--- a/go/logic/streamer.go
+++ b/go/logic/streamer.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type BinlogEventListener struct {
 	async        bool
 	databaseName string
 	tableName    string
-	onDmlEvent   func(event *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) error
+	onDmlEvent   func(event *binlog.BinlogEntry) error
 }
 
 const (
@@ -49,18 +49,19 @@ type EventsStreamer struct {
 
 func NewEventsStreamer(migrationContext *base.MigrationContext) *EventsStreamer {
 	return &EventsStreamer{
-		connectionConfig: migrationContext.InspectorConnectionConfig,
-		migrationContext: migrationContext,
-		listeners:        [](*BinlogEventListener){},
-		listenersMutex:   &sync.Mutex{},
-		eventsChannel:    make(chan *binlog.BinlogEntry, EventsChannelBufferSize),
-		name:             "streamer",
+		connectionConfig:         migrationContext.InspectorConnectionConfig,
+		migrationContext:         migrationContext,
+		listeners:                [](*BinlogEventListener){},
+		listenersMutex:           &sync.Mutex{},
+		eventsChannel:            make(chan *binlog.BinlogEntry, EventsChannelBufferSize),
+		name:                     "streamer",
+		initialBinlogCoordinates: migrationContext.InitialStreamerCoords,
 	}
 }
 
 // AddListener registers a new listener for binlog events, on a per-table basis
 func (this *EventsStreamer) AddListener(
-	async bool, databaseName string, tableName string, onDmlEvent func(event *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) error) (err error) {
+	async bool, databaseName string, tableName string, onDmlEvent func(event *binlog.BinlogEntry) error) (err error) {
 	this.listenersMutex.Lock()
 	defer this.listenersMutex.Unlock()
 
@@ -82,24 +83,24 @@ func (this *EventsStreamer) AddListener(
 
 // notifyListeners will notify relevant listeners with given DML event. Only
 // listeners registered for changes on the table on which the DML operates are notified.
-func (this *EventsStreamer) notifyListeners(binlogEvent *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) {
+func (this *EventsStreamer) notifyListeners(binlogEntry *binlog.BinlogEntry) {
 	this.listenersMutex.Lock()
 	defer this.listenersMutex.Unlock()
 
 	for _, listener := range this.listeners {
 		listener := listener
-		if !strings.EqualFold(listener.databaseName, binlogEvent.DatabaseName) {
+		if !strings.EqualFold(listener.databaseName, binlogEntry.DmlEvent.DatabaseName) {
 			continue
 		}
-		if !strings.EqualFold(listener.tableName, binlogEvent.TableName) {
+		if !strings.EqualFold(listener.tableName, binlogEntry.DmlEvent.TableName) {
 			continue
 		}
 		if listener.async {
 			go func() {
-				listener.onDmlEvent(binlogEvent)
+				listener.onDmlEvent(binlogEntry)
 			}()
 		} else {
-			listener.onDmlEvent(binlogEvent)
+			listener.onDmlEvent(binlogEntry)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -114,8 +115,10 @@ func (this *EventsStreamer) InitDBConnections() (err error) {
 		return err
 	}
 	this.dbVersion = version
-	if err := this.readCurrentBinlogCoordinates(); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if this.initialBinlogCoordinates == nil || this.initialBinlogCoordinates.IsEmpty() {
+		if err := this.readCurrentBinlogCoordinates(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	if err := this.initBinlogReader(this.initialBinlogCoordinates); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -176,7 +179,7 @@ func (this *EventsStreamer) StreamEvents(canStopStreaming func() bool) error {
 	go func() {
 		for binlogEntry := range this.eventsChannel {
 			if binlogEntry.DmlEvent != nil {
-				this.notifyListeners(binlogEntry.DmlEvent)
+				this.notifyListeners(binlogEntry)
 			}
 		}
 	}()
diff --git a/go/sql/builder.go b/go/sql/builder.go
index f268318..757d749 100644
--- a/go/sql/builder.go
+++ b/go/sql/builder.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const (
 	GreaterThanOrEqualsComparisonSign ValueComparisonSign = ">="
 	GreaterThanComparisonSign         ValueComparisonSign = ">"
 	NotEqualsComparisonSign           ValueComparisonSign = "!="
+	MaxColumnNameLength                                   = 64
 )
 
 // EscapeName will escape a db/table/column/... name by wrapping with backticks.
@@ -32,6 +33,21 @@ func EscapeName(name string) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("`%s`", name)
 }
 
+// TruncateColumnName truncates a name so it can be used as a MySQL
+// column name, taking into account UTF-8 characters.
+func TruncateColumnName(name string, limit int) string {
+	truncatedName := name
+	chars := 0
+	for byteIdx := range name {
+		if chars >= limit {
+			truncatedName = name[:byteIdx]
+			break
+		}
+		chars++
+	}
+	return truncatedName
+}
+
 func buildColumnsPreparedValues(columns *ColumnList) []string {
 	values := make([]string, columns.Len())
 	for i, column := range columns.Columns() {
@@ -101,6 +117,68 @@ func BuildEqualsPreparedComparison(columns []string) (result string, err error)
 	return BuildEqualsComparison(columns, values)
 }
 
+// It holds the prepared query statement so it doesn't need to be recreated every time.
+type CheckpointInsertQueryBuilder struct {
+	uniqueKeyColumns  *ColumnList
+	preparedStatement string
+}
+
+func NewCheckpointQueryBuilder(databaseName, tableName string, uniqueKeyColumns *ColumnList) (*CheckpointInsertQueryBuilder, error) {
+	if uniqueKeyColumns.Len() == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Got 0 columns in BuildSetCheckpointInsertQuery")
+	}
+	values := buildColumnsPreparedValues(uniqueKeyColumns)
+	minUniqueColNames := []string{}
+	maxUniqueColNames := []string{}
+	for _, name := range uniqueKeyColumns.Names() {
+		minColName := TruncateColumnName(name, MaxColumnNameLength-4) + "_min"
+		maxColName := TruncateColumnName(name, MaxColumnNameLength-4) + "_max"
+		minUniqueColNames = append(minUniqueColNames, minColName)
+		maxUniqueColNames = append(maxUniqueColNames, maxColName)
+	}
+	databaseName = EscapeName(databaseName)
+	tableName = EscapeName(tableName)
+	stmt := fmt.Sprintf(`
+		insert /* gh-ost */
+		into %s.%s
+			(gh_ost_chk_timestamp, gh_ost_chk_coords, gh_ost_chk_iteration,
+			 gh_ost_rows_copied, gh_ost_dml_applied,
+  			 %s, %s)
+		values
+			(unix_timestamp(now()), ?, ?,
+			 ?, ?,
+			 %s, %s)`,
+		databaseName, tableName,
+		strings.Join(minUniqueColNames, ", "),
+		strings.Join(maxUniqueColNames, ", "),
+		strings.Join(values, ", "),
+		strings.Join(values, ", "),
+	)
+
+	b := &CheckpointInsertQueryBuilder{
+		uniqueKeyColumns:  uniqueKeyColumns,
+		preparedStatement: stmt,
+	}
+	return b, nil
+}
+
+// BuildQuery builds the insert query.
+func (b *CheckpointInsertQueryBuilder) BuildQuery(uniqueKeyArgs []interface{}) (string, []interface{}, error) {
+	if len(uniqueKeyArgs) != 2*b.uniqueKeyColumns.Len() {
+		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("args count differs from 2 x unique key column count")
+	}
+	convertedArgs := make([]interface{}, 0, 2*b.uniqueKeyColumns.Len())
+	for i, column := range b.uniqueKeyColumns.Columns() {
+		minArg := column.convertArg(uniqueKeyArgs[i], true)
+		convertedArgs = append(convertedArgs, minArg)
+	}
+	for i, column := range b.uniqueKeyColumns.Columns() {
+		minArg := column.convertArg(uniqueKeyArgs[i+b.uniqueKeyColumns.Len()], true)
+		convertedArgs = append(convertedArgs, minArg)
+	}
+	return b.preparedStatement, convertedArgs, nil
+}
+
 func BuildSetPreparedClause(columns *ColumnList) (result string, err error) {
 	if columns.Len() == 0 {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("Got 0 columns in BuildSetPreparedClause")
diff --git a/go/sql/types.go b/go/sql/types.go
index aac52bc..a01fb8b 100644
--- a/go/sql/types.go
+++ b/go/sql/types.go
@@ -38,10 +38,12 @@ type CharacterSetConversion struct {
 }
 
 type Column struct {
-	Name                 string
-	IsUnsigned           bool
-	IsVirtual            bool
-	Charset              string
+	Name       string
+	IsUnsigned bool
+	IsVirtual  bool
+	Charset    string
+	// Type represents a subset of MySQL types
+	// used for mapping columns to golang values.
 	Type                 ColumnType
 	EnumValues           string
 	timezoneConversion   *TimezoneConversion
@@ -50,6 +52,9 @@ type Column struct {
 	// https://github.com/github/gh-ost/issues/909
 	BinaryOctetLength uint
 	charsetConversion *CharacterSetConversion
+	CharacterSetName  string
+	Nullable          bool
+	MySQLType         string
 }
 
 func (this *Column) convertArg(arg interface{}, isUniqueKeyColumn bool) interface{} {
@@ -345,3 +350,9 @@ func (this *ColumnValues) String() string {
 	}
 	return strings.Join(stringValues, ",")
 }
+
+func (this *ColumnValues) Clone() *ColumnValues {
+	cv := NewColumnValues(len(this.abstractValues))
+	copy(cv.abstractValues, this.abstractValues)
+	return cv
+}



Test patch:
diff --git a/go/logic/applier_test.go b/go/logic/applier_test.go
index 13e8a4d..232349d 100644
--- a/go/logic/applier_test.go
+++ b/go/logic/applier_test.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
-   Copyright 2022 GitHub Inc.
+   Copyright 2025 GitHub Inc.
          See https://github.com/github/gh-ost/blob/master/LICENSE
 */
 
@@ -15,12 +15,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/suite"
 
 	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go"
-	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/modules/mysql"
+	testmysql "github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/modules/mysql"
 
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/base"
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/binlog"
+	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/mysql"
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/sql"
 	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/wait"
 )
@@ -207,11 +208,11 @@ type ApplierTestSuite struct {
 
 func (suite *ApplierTestSuite) SetupSuite() {
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	mysqlContainer, err := mysql.Run(ctx,
+	mysqlContainer, err := testmysql.Run(ctx,
 		testMysqlContainerImage,
-		mysql.WithDatabase(testMysqlDatabase),
-		mysql.WithUsername(testMysqlUser),
-		mysql.WithPassword(testMysqlPass),
+		testmysql.WithDatabase(testMysqlDatabase),
+		testmysql.WithUsername(testMysqlUser),
+		testmysql.WithPassword(testMysqlPass),
 		testcontainers.WithWaitStrategy(wait.ForExposedPort()),
 	)
 	suite.Require().NoError(err)
@@ -631,6 +632,92 @@ func (suite *ApplierTestSuite) TestPanicOnWarningsInApplyIterationInsertQueryFai
 	suite.Require().Contains(applier.migrationContext.MigrationLastInsertSQLWarnings[0], "Warning: Data truncated for column 'name' at row 1")
 }
 
+func (suite *ApplierTestSuite) TestWriteCheckpoint() {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	var err error
+
+	_, err = suite.db.ExecContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("CREATE TABLE %s (id int not null, id2 char(4) CHARACTER SET utf8mb4, primary key(id, id2))", getTestTableName()))
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	_, err = suite.db.ExecContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("CREATE TABLE %s (id INT, id2 char(4) CHARACTER SET utf8mb4, name varchar(20), primary key(id, id2));", getTestGhostTableName()))
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	_, err = suite.db.ExecContext(ctx, fmt.Sprintf("INSERT INTO %s (id, id2) VALUES (?,?), (?,?), (?,?)", getTestTableName()), 411, "君子懷德", 411, "小人懷土", 212, "君子不器")
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	connectionConfig, err := getTestConnectionConfig(ctx, suite.mysqlContainer)
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	migrationContext := newTestMigrationContext()
+	migrationContext.ApplierConnectionConfig = connectionConfig
+	migrationContext.InspectorConnectionConfig = connectionConfig
+	migrationContext.SetConnectionConfig("innodb")
+
+	migrationContext.AlterStatementOptions = "add column name varchar(20)"
+	migrationContext.OriginalTableColumns = sql.NewColumnList([]string{"id", "id2"})
+	migrationContext.SharedColumns = sql.NewColumnList([]string{"id", "id2"})
+	migrationContext.MappedSharedColumns = sql.NewColumnList([]string{"id", "id2"})
+	migrationContext.Checkpoint = true
+	migrationContext.UniqueKey = &sql.UniqueKey{
+		Name:             "PRIMARY",
+		NameInGhostTable: "PRIMARY",
+		Columns:          *sql.NewColumnList([]string{"id", "id2"}),
+	}
+
+	inspector := NewInspector(migrationContext)
+	suite.Require().NoError(inspector.InitDBConnections())
+
+	err = inspector.applyColumnTypes(testMysqlDatabase, testMysqlTableName, &migrationContext.UniqueKey.Columns)
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	applier := NewApplier(migrationContext)
+
+	err = applier.InitDBConnections()
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	err = applier.CreateChangelogTable()
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	err = applier.CreateCheckpointTable()
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	err = applier.prepareQueries()
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	err = applier.ReadMigrationRangeValues()
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	// checkpoint table is empty
+	_, err = applier.ReadLastCheckpoint()
+	suite.Require().ErrorIs(err, ErrNoCheckpointFound)
+
+	// write a checkpoint and read it back
+	coords := mysql.NewFileBinlogCoordinates("mysql-bin.000003", int64(219202907))
+
+	chk := &Checkpoint{
+		LastTrxCoords:     coords,
+		IterationRangeMin: applier.migrationContext.MigrationRangeMinValues,
+		IterationRangeMax: applier.migrationContext.MigrationRangeMaxValues,
+		Iteration:         2,
+		RowsCopied:        100000,
+		DMLApplied:        200000,
+	}
+	id, err := applier.WriteCheckpoint(chk)
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+	suite.Require().Equal(int64(1), id)
+
+	gotChk, err := applier.ReadLastCheckpoint()
+	suite.Require().NoError(err)
+
+	suite.Require().Equal(chk.Iteration, gotChk.Iteration)
+	suite.Require().Equal(chk.LastTrxCoords.String(), gotChk.LastTrxCoords.String())
+	suite.Require().Equal(chk.IterationRangeMin.String(), gotChk.IterationRangeMin.String())
+	suite.Require().Equal(chk.IterationRangeMax.String(), gotChk.IterationRangeMax.String())
+	suite.Require().Equal(chk.RowsCopied, gotChk.RowsCopied)
+	suite.Require().Equal(chk.DMLApplied, gotChk.DMLApplied)
+}
+
 func TestApplier(t *testing.T) {
 	suite.Run(t, new(ApplierTestSuite))
 }
diff --git a/go/logic/migrator_test.go b/go/logic/migrator_test.go
index 86c060a..b268054 100644
--- a/go/logic/migrator_test.go
+++ b/go/logic/migrator_test.go
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/suite"
-	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/modules/mysql"
+	testmysql "github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/modules/mysql"
 
 	"runtime"
 
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/base"
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/binlog"
+	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/mysql"
 	"github.com/github/gh-ost/go/sql"
 	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go"
 	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/wait"
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 func TestMigratorOnChangelogEvent(t *testing.T) {
 	migrationContext := base.NewMigrationContext()
 	migrator := NewMigrator(migrationContext, "1.2.3")
+	migrator.applier = NewApplier(migrationContext)
 
 	t.Run("heartbeat", func(t *testing.T) {
 		columnValues := sql.ToColumnValues([]interface{}{
@@ -43,10 +45,12 @@ func TestMigratorOnChangelogEvent(t *testing.T) {
 			"heartbeat",
 			"2022-08-16T00:45:10.52Z",
 		})
-		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
-			DatabaseName:    "test",
-			DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
-			NewColumnValues: columnValues,
+		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogEntry{
+			DmlEvent: &binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
+				DatabaseName:    "test",
+				DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
+				NewColumnValues: columnValues},
+			Coordinates: mysql.NewFileBinlogCoordinates("mysql-bin.000004", int64(4)),
 		}))
 	})
 
@@ -66,10 +70,12 @@ func TestMigratorOnChangelogEvent(t *testing.T) {
 			"state",
 			AllEventsUpToLockProcessed,
 		})
-		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
-			DatabaseName:    "test",
-			DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
-			NewColumnValues: columnValues,
+		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogEntry{
+			DmlEvent: &binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
+				DatabaseName:    "test",
+				DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
+				NewColumnValues: columnValues},
+			Coordinates: mysql.NewFileBinlogCoordinates("mysql-bin.000004", int64(4)),
 		}))
 		wg.Wait()
 	})
@@ -85,10 +91,12 @@ func TestMigratorOnChangelogEvent(t *testing.T) {
 			"state",
 			GhostTableMigrated,
 		})
-		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
-			DatabaseName:    "test",
-			DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
-			NewColumnValues: columnValues,
+		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogEntry{
+			DmlEvent: &binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
+				DatabaseName:    "test",
+				DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
+				NewColumnValues: columnValues},
+			Coordinates: mysql.NewFileBinlogCoordinates("mysql-bin.000004", int64(4)),
 		}))
 	})
 
@@ -99,10 +107,12 @@ func TestMigratorOnChangelogEvent(t *testing.T) {
 			"state",
 			Migrated,
 		})
-		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
-			DatabaseName:    "test",
-			DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
-			NewColumnValues: columnValues,
+		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogEntry{
+			DmlEvent: &binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
+				DatabaseName:    "test",
+				DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
+				NewColumnValues: columnValues},
+			Coordinates: mysql.NewFileBinlogCoordinates("mysql-bin.000004", int64(4)),
 		}))
 	})
 
@@ -113,10 +123,12 @@ func TestMigratorOnChangelogEvent(t *testing.T) {
 			"state",
 			ReadMigrationRangeValues,
 		})
-		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
-			DatabaseName:    "test",
-			DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
-			NewColumnValues: columnValues,
+		require.Nil(t, migrator.onChangelogEvent(&binlog.BinlogEntry{
+			DmlEvent: &binlog.BinlogDMLEvent{
+				DatabaseName:    "test",
+				DML:             binlog.InsertDML,
+				NewColumnValues: columnValues},
+			Coordinates: mysql.NewFileBinlogCoordinates("mysql-bin.000004", int64(4)),
 		}))
 	})
 }
@@ -283,11 +295,11 @@ type MigratorTestSuite struct {
 
 func (suite *MigratorTestSuite) SetupSuite() {
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	mysqlContainer, err := mysql.Run(ctx,
+	mysqlContainer, err := testmysql.Run(ctx,
 		testMysqlContainerImage,
-		mysql.WithDatabase(testMysqlDatabase),
-		mysql.WithUsername(testMysqlUser),
-		mysql.WithPassword(testMysqlPass),
+		testmysql.WithDatabase(testMysqlDatabase),
+		testmysql.WithUsername(testMysqlUser),
+		testmysql.WithPassword(testMysqlPass),
 		testcontainers.WithWaitStrategy(wait.ForExposedPort()),
 	)
 	suite.Require().NoError(err)
diff --git a/go/logic/streamer_test.go b/go/logic/streamer_test.go
index baa6076..2c5d388 100644
--- a/go/logic/streamer_test.go
+++ b/go/logic/streamer_test.go
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ func (suite *EventsStreamerTestSuite) TestStreamEvents() {
 	streamCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
 	dmlEvents := make([]*binlog.BinlogDMLEvent, 0)
-	err = streamer.AddListener(false, testMysqlDatabase, testMysqlTableName, func(event *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) error {
-		dmlEvents = append(dmlEvents, event)
+	err = streamer.AddListener(false, testMysqlDatabase, testMysqlTableName, func(event *binlog.BinlogEntry) error {
+		dmlEvents = append(dmlEvents, event.DmlEvent)
 
 		// Stop once we've collected three events
 		if len(dmlEvents) == 3 {
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ func (suite *EventsStreamerTestSuite) TestStreamEventsAutomaticallyReconnects()
 	streamCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
 	dmlEvents := make([]*binlog.BinlogDMLEvent, 0)
-	err = streamer.AddListener(false, testMysqlDatabase, testMysqlTableName, func(event *binlog.BinlogDMLEvent) error {
-		dmlEvents = append(dmlEvents, event)
+	err = streamer.AddListener(false, testMysqlDatabase, testMysqlTableName, func(event *binlog.BinlogEntry) error {
+		dmlEvents = append(dmlEvents, event.DmlEvent)
 
 		// Stop once we've collected three events
 		if len(dmlEvents) == 3 {
diff --git a/go/sql/builder_test.go b/go/sql/builder_test.go
index a6735a3..06e402c 100644
--- a/go/sql/builder_test.go
+++ b/go/sql/builder_test.go
@@ -790,3 +790,28 @@ func TestBuildDMLUpdateQuerySignedUnsigned(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, []interface{}{uint8(253)}, uniqueKeyArgs)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestCheckpointQueryBuilder(t *testing.T) {
+	databaseName := "mydb"
+	tableName := "_tbl_ghk"
+	valueArgs := []interface{}{"mona", "mascot", int8(-17), "anothername", "anotherposition", int8(-2)}
+	uniqueKeyColumns := NewColumnList([]string{"name", "position", "my_very_long_column_that_is_64_utf8_characters_long_很长很长很长很长很长很长"})
+	builder, err := NewCheckpointQueryBuilder(databaseName, tableName, uniqueKeyColumns)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	query, uniqueKeyArgs, err := builder.BuildQuery(valueArgs)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	expected := `
+		insert /* gh-ost */ into mydb._tbl_ghk
+		(gh_ost_chk_timestamp, gh_ost_chk_coords, gh_ost_chk_iteration,
+		 gh_ost_rows_copied, gh_ost_dml_applied,
+		 name_min, position_min, my_very_long_column_that_is_64_utf8_characters_long_很长很长很长很长_min,
+		 name_max, position_max, my_very_long_column_that_is_64_utf8_characters_long_很长很长很长很长_max)
+		values
+		(unix_timestamp(now()), ?, ?,
+			 ?, ?,
+			 ?, ?, ?,
+			 ?, ?, ?)
+    `
+	require.Equal(t, normalizeQuery(expected), normalizeQuery(query))
+	require.Equal(t, []interface{}{"mona", "mascot", int8(-17), "anothername", "anotherposition", int8(-2)}, uniqueKeyArgs)
+}
diff --git a/localtests/test.sh b/localtests/test.sh
index 7fe9c2a..6776d22 100755
--- a/localtests/test.sh
+++ b/localtests/test.sh
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ sysbench_prepare() {
         --mysql-password=opensesame \
         --mysql-db=test \
         --tables=1 \
-        --table-size=10000 \
+        --table-size=20000 \
         prepare
 }
 
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ sysbench_run_cmd() {
     --threads=2 \
     --time=30 \
     --report-interval=10 \
-    --rate=500 \
+    --rate=200 \
     run"
     echo $cmd
 }
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ test_single() {
 
     table_name="gh_ost_test"
     ghost_table_name="_gh_ost_test_gho"
-    trap cleanup EXIT INT TERM
     # test with sysbench oltp write load
     if [[ "$test_name" == "sysbench" ]]; then
         if ! command -v sysbench &>/dev/null; then
@@ -273,6 +272,7 @@ test_single() {
         echo -n "Started sysbench (PID $sysbench_pid):  "
         echo $load_cmd
     fi
+    trap cleanup SIGINT
 
     #
     cmd="GOTRACEBACK=crash $ghost_binary \
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ test_single() {
     --verbose \
     --debug \
     --stack \
+    --checkpoint \
     --execute ${extra_args[@]}"
     echo_dot
     echo $cmd >$exec_command_file