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MySQL Installation

Introduction​

MySQL is one of the most popular open-source relational database management systems. It's used by many web applications, including WordPress, Drupal, and countless custom solutions. Before you can start learning SQL commands or building applications with MySQL, you need to install it on your system.

This guide will walk you through the process of installing MySQL on different operating systems, verifying your installation, and performing initial setup tasks.

Why MySQL?​

MySQL offers several advantages that have contributed to its popularity:

  • Open-source: Free to use and modify
  • Performance: Excellent speed and reliability
  • Cross-platform: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other platforms
  • Community support: Large user community and extensive documentation
  • Scalability: Works well for both small applications and large enterprise systems

Installation Methods​

There are three primary ways to get MySQL running on your system:

Let's explore each method in detail.

Installing MySQL on Windows​

Using the MySQL Installer​

  1. Download MySQL Installer:

    • Go to the MySQL Downloads page
    • Select "MySQL Installer for Windows"
    • Download the appropriate version (typically the larger "web community" option)

  2. Run the installer:

    • Double-click the downloaded file
    • Choose "Developer Default" for a complete installation or "Server only" for a minimal installation
    • Click "Next" to proceed

  3. Check requirements:

    • The installer will check for prerequisites
    • Install any missing components by clicking "Execute"

  4. Configuration:

    • Choose "Standalone MySQL Server"
    • Select "Development Computer" for configuration type
    • Leave the default port (3306) unless you have a specific reason to change it
    • Set a root password (remember this password!)

  5. Complete installation:

    • Click "Execute" to apply the configuration
    • Wait for the installation to complete
    • Click "Finish" to exit the installer

Verify Installation on Windows​

Open Command Prompt and type:

mysql --version

You should see output similar to:

mysql  Ver 8.0.28 for Win64 on x86_64 (MySQL Community Server - GPL)

Installing MySQL on macOS​

If you have Homebrew installed, this is the easiest method:

  1. Install MySQL:

    brew install mysql

  2. Start MySQL service:

    brew services start mysql

  3. Set up root password:

    mysql_secure_installation

    Follow the prompts to:

    • Set a root password
    • Remove anonymous users
    • Disallow root login remotely
    • Remove test database
    • Reload privilege tables

Using DMG Installer​

  1. Download MySQL DMG:

  2. Install MySQL:

    • Open the downloaded DMG file
    • Run the package installer
    • Follow the installation wizard
    • Note the temporary password displayed at the end (you'll need it)

  3. Start MySQL:

    • Open System Preferences
    • Click on the MySQL icon
    • Click "Start MySQL Server"

Verify Installation on macOS​

Open Terminal and type:

mysql --version

You should see output showing your MySQL version.

Installing MySQL on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)​

  1. Update package index:

    sudo apt update

  2. Install MySQL server:

    sudo apt install mysql-server

  3. Start MySQL service:

    sudo systemctl start mysql

  4. Enable MySQL to start at boot:

    sudo systemctl enable mysql

  5. Secure MySQL installation:

    sudo mysql_secure_installation

    Follow the prompts to set up root password and secure your installation.

Verify Installation on Linux​

mysql --version

Installing MySQL on Linux (Red Hat/CentOS/Fedora)​

  1. Add MySQL repository (for MySQL 8.0):

    sudo rpm -Uvh https://repo.mysql.com/mysql80-community-release-el7-3.noarch.rpm

  2. Install MySQL server:

    sudo yum install mysql-server

  3. Start MySQL service:

    sudo systemctl start mysqld

  4. Enable MySQL to start at boot:

    sudo systemctl enable mysqld

  5. Find temporary root password:

    sudo grep 'temporary password' /var/log/mysqld.log

  6. Secure your installation:

    sudo mysql_secure_installation

Using MySQL with Docker​

Docker provides a convenient way to run MySQL without installing it directly on your system:

  1. Pull the MySQL image:

    docker pull mysql:8.0

  2. Run MySQL container:

    docker run --name my-mysql -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=my-secret-pw -d -p 3306:3306 mysql:8.0

    This command:

    • Names the container "my-mysql"
    • Sets the root password to "my-secret-pw" (change this!)
    • Runs in detached mode
    • Maps port 3306 on your machine to port 3306 in the container

  3. Connect to MySQL in the container:

    docker exec -it my-mysql mysql -uroot -p

Initial Configuration​

After installation, you should perform some basic configuration:

Connecting to MySQL Server​

mysql -u root -p

Enter your password when prompted.

Creating a New Database​

Once connected to MySQL, create a new database:

CREATE DATABASE my_database;

You should see:

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec)

Creating a New User​

It's a good practice to avoid using the root user for regular operations:

CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'mypassword';

Granting Privileges​

Grant privileges to your new user:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON my_database.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Testing the New User​

Exit from the current MySQL session:

EXIT;

Connect with the new user:

mysql -u myuser -p my_database

Common Installation Issues and Solutions​

"Access Denied for User 'root'@'localhost'"​

This occurs when the root password is incorrect or when authentication method has changed.

Solution:

  1. Stop MySQL service:

    sudo systemctl stop mysql   # Linux
    sudo brew services stop mysql   # macOS

  2. Start MySQL in safe mode:

    sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

  3. Connect to MySQL:

    mysql -u root

  4. Reset password:

    FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
    ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password';
    EXIT;

  5. Restart MySQL normally:

    sudo systemctl start mysql   # Linux
    sudo brew services start mysql   # macOS

"Can't Connect to MySQL Server"​

This usually means the server isn't running or there's a port conflict.

Solution:

  1. Check if MySQL is running:

    sudo systemctl status mysql   # Linux
    brew services list   # macOS

  2. If not running, start it:

    sudo systemctl start mysql   # Linux
    brew services start mysql   # macOS

  3. Check if port 3306 is already in use:

    sudo netstat -tlnp | grep 3306   # Linux
    lsof -i :3306   # macOS

Upgrading MySQL​

Windows​

  1. Download the newest MySQL installer
  2. Run the installer and choose "Upgrade" option
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the upgrade

macOS (using Homebrew)​

brew update
brew upgrade mysql

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)​

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade mysql-server

Summary​

You've now learned how to:

  • Install MySQL on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems
  • Use Docker to run MySQL in a container
  • Verify your MySQL installation
  • Perform initial configuration tasks
  • Create databases and users
  • Troubleshoot common installation issues
  • Upgrade your MySQL installation

These steps provide a solid foundation for working with MySQL. Now that you have MySQL installed, you can proceed to learn SQL commands and database design principles.

Additional Resources​

Exercises​

  1. Install MySQL on your preferred operating system.
  2. Connect to your MySQL server using the command line.
  3. Create a new database called "practice".
  4. Create a new user called "practice_user" with full privileges on the "practice" database.
  5. Connect to MySQL using your new user and create a simple table.

Now that you have MySQL installed and configured, you're ready to dive into learning SQL and database concepts!


If you spot any mistakes on this website, please let me know at [email protected]. I’d greatly appreciate your feedback! :)