IMHO, use the wheel that has already been created and working with success. Hacking to change php will cause you are lot more headaches that its worth. I often use the shell to import database with great success though I do use tools like bigdump that has been mentioned as well. With a 400 meg database, I think you would be wise to stick with "known" solutions rather than trying to use or develop hacks that will shoot you in the head and cause a lot of pain before you finish the job and then you end up with an "unknown" state that is nearly impossible to troubleshoot.
HTH
|