@Bradford
The most often reason for 'MySQLserver has gone away' is 'max_allowed_packet' but it's not the only factor.
Suggest diving into:
https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.4/en/gone-away.html
If the link to 8.4 of SQL isn't your version, change the version number to match yours.
Does the course have any addon plugins content? If so, what addons? Are those up to date on your server?
How are you backing up this course? Suggest stepping through each screen and when you get to what to backup in the course, select half of the sections. Change filename of the backup to reflect that it's 1/2 of course.
If that works, do again, cept this time do the other 1/2.
Restoring them would be a two step then. :|
What's the purpose in backing up the course? To restore that course to a new course? Is it a course where you could reset it and remove all student/participant work to make it ready for use for new students/participants?
Sorry ... no pat answer! :|
'SoS', Ken