diff --git a/admin/tool/replace/cli/replace.php b/admin/tool/replace/cli/replace.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1f9e74bce76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin/tool/replace/cli/replace.php
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+<?php
+// This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/
+//
+// Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Moodle.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+/**
+ * Search and replace strings throughout all texts in the whole database.
+ *
+ * @package    tool_replace
+ * @copyright  1999 onwards Martin Dougiamas (http://dougiamas.com)
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
+ */
+
+define('CLI_SCRIPT', true);
+
+require(__DIR__.'/../../../../config.php');
+require_once($CFG->libdir.'/clilib.php');
+require_once($CFG->libdir.'/adminlib.php');
+
+$help =
+    "Search and replace text throughout the whole database.
+
+Options:
+--search=STRING       String to search for.
+--replace=STRING      String to replace with.
+--shorten             Shorten result if necessary.
+--non-interactive     Perform the replacement without confirming.
+-h, --help            Print out this help.
+
+Example:
+\$ sudo -u www-data /usr/bin/php admin/tool/replace/cli/replace.php --search=//oldsitehost --replace=//newsitehost
+";
+
+list($options, $unrecognized) = cli_get_params(
+    array(
+        'search'  => null,
+        'replace' => null,
+        'shorten' => false,
+        'non-interactive' => false,
+        'help'    => false,
+    ),
+    array(
+        'h' => 'help',
+    )
+);
+
+if ($options['help'] || $options['search'] === null || $options['replace'] === null) {
+    echo $help;
+    exit(0);
+}
+
+if (!$DB->replace_all_text_supported()) {
+    cli_error(get_string('notimplemented', 'tool_replace'));
+}
+
+if (empty($options['shorten']) && core_text::strlen($options['search']) < core_text::strlen($options['replace'])) {
+    cli_error(get_string('cannotfit', 'tool_replace'));
+}
+
+try {
+    $search = validate_param($options['search'], PARAM_RAW);
+    $replace = validate_param($options['replace'], PARAM_RAW);
+} catch (invalid_parameter_exception $e) {
+    cli_error(get_string('invalidcharacter', 'tool_replace'));
+}
+
+if (!$options['non-interactive']) {
+    echo get_string('excludedtables', 'tool_replace') . "\n\n";
+    echo get_string('notsupported', 'tool_replace') . "\n\n";
+    $prompt = get_string('cliyesnoprompt', 'admin');
+    $input = cli_input($prompt, '', array(get_string('clianswerno', 'admin'), get_string('cliansweryes', 'admin')));
+    if ($input == get_string('clianswerno', 'admin')) {
+        exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
+if (!db_replace($search, $replace)) {
+    cli_heading(get_string('error'));
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+cli_heading(get_string('success'));
+exit(0);
diff --git a/admin/tool/replace/lang/en/tool_replace.php b/admin/tool/replace/lang/en/tool_replace.php
index 919ed67ae0f..481fd0681cd 100644
--- a/admin/tool/replace/lang/en/tool_replace.php
+++ b/admin/tool/replace/lang/en/tool_replace.php
@@ -27,11 +27,12 @@ $string['cannotfit'] = 'The replacement is longer than original and shortening i
 $string['disclaimer'] = 'I understand the risks of this operation';
 $string['doit'] = 'Yes, do it!';
 $string['excludedtables'] = 'Several tables are not updated as part of the text replacement. This include configuration, log, events, and session tables.';
-$string['pageheader'] = 'Search and replace text throughout the whole database';
+$string['invalidcharacter'] = 'Invalid characters were found in the search or replacement text.';
 $string['notifyfinished'] = '...finished';
 $string['notifyrebuilding'] = 'Rebuilding course cache...';
 $string['notimplemented'] = 'Sorry, this feature is not implemented in your database driver.';
-$string['notsupported'] ='This script is not supported, always make complete backup before proceeding!<br />This operation can not be reverted!';
+$string['notsupported'] = 'This script should be considered experimental and the changes it makes can not be reverted. Please make a complete backup for running this script!';
+$string['pageheader'] = 'Search and replace text throughout the whole database';
 $string['pluginname'] = 'DB search and replace';
 $string['replacewith'] = 'Replace with this string';
 $string['replacewithhelp'] = 'usually new server URL';