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Go to the first, previous, next, last section, table of contents.
2 Installing MySQLThis chapter describes how to obtain and install MySQL:
2.1 General Installation IssuesBefore installing MySQL, you should do the following:
This section contains the information necessary to carry out these steps. After doing so, you can use the instructions in later sections of the chapter to install the distribution that you choose. 2.1.1 Operating Systems Supported by MySQLThis section lists the operating systems on which you can expect to be able to run MySQL. We use GNU Autoconf, so it is possible to port MySQL to all modern systems that have a C++ compiler and a working implementation of POSIX threads. (Thread support is needed for the server. To compile only the client code, the only requirement is a C++ compiler.) We use and develop the software ourselves primarily on Linux (SuSE and Red Hat), FreeBSD, and Sun Solaris (Versions 8 and 9). MySQL has been reported to compile successfully on the following combinations of operating system and thread package. Note that for many operating systems, native thread support works only in the latest versions.
Not all platforms are equally well-suited for running MySQL. How well a certain platform is suited for a high-load mission-critical MySQL server is determined by the following factors:
Based on the preceding criteria, the best platforms for running
MySQL at this point are x86 with SuSE Linux using a 2.4 kernel, and
ReiserFS (or any similar Linux distribution) and SPARC with Solaris
(2.7-9). FreeBSD comes third, but we really hope it will join the top
club once the thread library is improved. We also hope that at some
point we will be able to include into the top category all other platforms
on which MySQL currently compiles and runs okay, but not quite with the
same level of stability and performance. This will require some
effort on our part in cooperation with the developers of the operating system
and library components that MySQL depends on. If you are interested in
improving one of those components, are in a position to influence its
development, and need more detailed instructions on what MySQL
needs to run better, send an email message to the MySQL Please note that the purpose of the preceding comparison is not to say that one operating system is better or worse than another in general. We are talking only about choosing an OS for the specific purpose of running MySQL. With this in mind, the result of this comparison would be different if we considered more factors. In some cases, the reason one OS is better than the other could simply be that we have been able to put more effort into testing and optimizing for a particular platform. We are just stating our observations to help you decide which platform to use for running MySQL. 2.1.2 Choosing Which MySQL Distribution to InstallWhen preparing to install MySQL, you should decide which version to use. MySQL development occurs in several release series, and you can pick the one that best fits your needs. After deciding which version to install, you can choose a distribution format. Releases are available in binary or source format. 2.1.2.1 Choosing Which Version of MySQL to InstallThe first decision to make is whether you want to use a production (stable) release or a development release. In the MySQL development process, multiple release series co-exist, each at a different stage of maturity:
We don't believe in a complete freeze, as this also leaves out bugfixes and things that ``must be done.'' ``Somewhat frozen'' means that we may add small things that ``almost surely will not affect anything that's already working.'' Naturally, relevant bugfixes from an earlier series propagate to later series. Normally, if you are beginning to use MySQL for the first time or trying to port it to some system for which there is no binary distribution, we recommend going with the production release series. Currently this is MySQL 4.1. All MySQL releases, even those from development series, are checked with the MySQL benchmarks and an extensive test suite before being issued. If you are running an old system and want to upgrade, but don't want to take the chance of having a non-seamless upgrade, you should upgrade to the latest version in the same release series you are using (where only the last part of the version number is newer than yours). We have tried to fix only fatal bugs and make small, relatively safe changes to that version. If you want to use new features not present in the production release series, you can use a version from a development series. Note that development releases are not as stable as production releases. If you want to use the very latest sources containing all current patches and bugfixes, you can use one of our BitKeeper repositories. These are not ``releases'' as such, but are available as previews of the code on which future releases will be based.
The MySQL naming scheme uses release names that consist of three
numbers and a suffix; for example,
For each minor update, the last number in the version string is incremented. When there are major new features or minor incompatibilities with previous versions, the second number in the version string is incremented. When the file format changes, the first number is increased. Release names also include a suffix to indicates the stability level of the release. Releases within a series progress through a set of suffixes to indicate how the stability level improves. The possible suffixes are:
MySQL uses a naming scheme that is slightly different from most other products. In general, it's relatively safe to use any version that has been out for a couple of weeks without being replaced with a new version within the release series. All releases of MySQL are run through our standard tests and benchmarks to ensure that they are relatively safe to use. Because the standard tests are extended over time to check for all previously found bugs, the test suite keeps getting better. All releases have been tested at least with:
Another test is that we use the newest MySQL version in our internal production environment, on at least one machine. We have more than 100GB of data to work with. 2.1.2.2 Choosing a Distribution Format
After choosing which version of MySQL to install, you should decide
whether to use a binary distribution or a source distribution. In
most cases, you should probably use a binary distribution, if one
exists for your platform. Binary distributions are available in native format
for many platforms, such as RPM files for Linux or DMG package installers for
Mac OS X. Distributions also are available as Zip archives or compressed
Reasons to choose a binary distribution include the following:
Under some circumstances, you probably will be better off installing MySQL from a source distribution:
2.1.2.3 How and When Updates Are ReleasedMySQL is evolving quite rapidly here at MySQL AB and we want to share new developments with other MySQL users. We try to make a release when we have very useful features that others seem to have a need for. We also try to help out users who request features that are easy to implement. We take note of what our licensed users want to have, and we especially take note of what our support customers want and try to help them out. No one has to download a new release. The News section will tell you if the new release has something you really want. See section D MySQL Change History. We use the following policy when updating MySQL:
2.1.2.4 Release Philosophy--No Known Bugs in ReleasesWe put a lot of time and effort into making our releases bug-free. To our knowledge, we have not released a single MySQL version with any known ``fatal'' repeatable bugs. (A ``fatal'' bug is something that crashes MySQL under normal usage, produces incorrect answers for normal queries, or has a security problem.) We have documented all open problems, bugs, and issues that are dependent on design decisions. See section 1.5.7 Known Errors and Design Deficiencies in MySQL. Our aim is to fix everything that is fixable without risk of making a stable MySQL version less stable. In certain cases, this means we can fix an issue in the development versions, but not in the stable (production) version. Naturally, we document such issues so that users are aware of them. Here is a description of how our build process works:
2.1.2.5 MySQL Binaries Compiled by MySQL ABAs a service of MySQL AB, we provide a set of binary distributions of MySQL that are compiled on systems at our site or on systems where supporters of MySQL kindly have given us access to their machines.
In addition to the binaries provided in platform-specific package formats,
we offer binary distributions for a number of platforms in the form of
compressed For Windows distributions, see section 2.3 Installing MySQL on Windows.
These distributions are generated using the script
These binaries are configured and built with the following compilers and
options. This information can also be obtained by looking at the variables
The following binaries are built on MySQL AB development systems:
The following binaries are built on third-party systems kindly provided to MySQL AB by other users. These are provided only as a courtesy; MySQL AB does not have full control over these systems, so we can provide only limited support for the binaries built on them.
The following compile options have been used for binary packages that MySQL AB provided in the past. These binaries no longer are being updated, but the compile options are listed here for reference purposes.
Anyone who has more optimal options for any of the preceding configurations
listed can always mail them to the MySQL RPM distributions prior to MySQL 3.22 are user-contributed. Beginning with MySQL 3.22, RPM distributions are generated by MySQL AB.
If you want to compile a debug version of MySQL, you should add
2.1.3 How to Get MySQLCheck the MySQL downloads page (http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/) for information about the current version and for downloading instructions. For a complete up-to-date list of MySQL download mirror sites, see http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mirrors.html. There you will also find information about becoming a MySQL mirror site and how to report a bad or out-of-date mirror. Our main mirror is located at http://mirrors.sunsite.dk/mysql/. 2.1.4 Verifying Package Integrity Using MD5 Checksums or
|
| Distribution file | mysql-standard-4.0.17-pc-linux-i686.tar.gz
|
| Signature file | mysql-standard-4.0.17-pc-linux-i686.tar.gz.asc
|
Make sure that both files are stored in the same directory and then run the following command to verify the signature for the distribution file:
shell> gpg --verify package_name.asc
Example:
shell> gpg --verify mysql-standard-4.0.17-pc-linux-i686.tar.gz.asc
gpg: Warning: using insecure memory!
gpg: Signature made Mon 03 Feb 2003 08:50:39 PM MET
using DSA key ID 5072E1F5
gpg: Good signature from
"MySQL Package signing key (www.mysql.com) <build@mysql.com>"
The Good signature message indicates that everything is all right.
You can ignore the insecure memory warning.
2.1.4.3 Signature Checking Using RPM
For RPM packages, there is no separate signature. RPM packages have a built-in GPG signature and MD5 checksum. You can verify a package by running the following command:
shell> rpm --checksig package_name.rpm
Example:
shell> rpm --checksig MySQL-server-4.0.10-0.i386.rpm MySQL-server-4.0.10-0.i386.rpm: md5 gpg OK
Note: If you are using RPM 4.1 and it complains about (GPG)
NOT OK (MISSING KEYS: GPG#5072e1f5), even though you have imported the
MySQL public build key into your own GPG keyring, you need to import the
key into the RPM keyring first. RPM 4.1 no longer uses your personal GPG
keyring (or GPG itself). Rather, it maintains its own keyring because it is
a system-wide application and a user's GPG public keyring is a user-specific
file. To import the MySQL public key into the RPM keyring, first obtain the
key as described in the previous section. Then use rpm --import
to import the key. For example, if you have the public key stored in a file
named `mysql_pubkey.asc', import it using this command:
shell> rpm --import mysql_pubkey.asc
If you need to obtain the MySQL public key, see section 2.1.4.2 Signature Checking Using GnuPG.
2.1.5 Installation Layouts
This section describes the default layout of the directories created by installing binary or source distributions provided by MySQL AB. If you install a distribution provided by another vendor, some other layout might be used.
On Windows, the default installation directory is `C:\mysql'. With MySQL version 4.1.5 and higher, this has changed to `C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1', where 4.1 will be the major version of the installation. The folder has the following subdirectories:
| Directory | Contents of Directory |
| `bin' | Client programs and the mysqld server
|
| `data' | Log files, databases |
| `Docs' | Documentation |
| `examples' | Example programs and scripts |
| `include' | Include (header) files |
| `lib' | Libraries |
| `scripts' | Utility scripts |
| `share' | Error message files |
Installations created from Linux RPM distributions result in files under the following system directories:
| Directory | Contents of Directory |
| `/usr/bin' | Client programs and scripts |
| `/usr/sbin' | The mysqld server
|
| `/var/lib/mysql' | Log files, databases |
| `/usr/share/doc/packages' | Documentation |
| `/usr/include/mysql' | Include (header) files |
| `/usr/lib/mysql' | Libraries |
| `/usr/share/mysql' | Error message and character set files |
| `/usr/share/sql-bench' | Benchmarks |
On Unix, a tar file
binary distribution is installed by unpacking it at the installation
location you choose (typically `/usr/local/mysql') and creates the
following directories in that location:
| Directory | Contents of Directory |
| `bin' | Client programs and the mysqld server
|
| `data' | Log files, databases |
| `docs' | Documentation, ChangeLog |
| `include' | Include (header) files |
| `lib' | Libraries |
| `scripts' | mysql_install_db
|
| `share/mysql' | Error message files |
| `sql-bench' | Benchmarks |
A source distribution is installed after you configure and compile it. By default, the installation step installs files under `/usr/local', in the following subdirectories:
| Directory | Contents of Directory |
| `bin' | Client programs and scripts |
| `include/mysql' | Include (header) files |
| `info' | Documentation in Info format |
| `lib/mysql' | Libraries |
| `libexec' | The mysqld server
|
| `share/mysql' | Error message files |
| `sql-bench' | Benchmarks and crash-me test
|
| `var' | Databases and log files |
Within an installation directory, the layout of a source installation differs from that of a binary installation in the following ways:
-
The
mysqldserver is installed in the `libexec' directory rather than in the `bin' directory. - The data directory is `var' rather than `data'.
-
mysql_install_dbis installed in the `bin' directory rather than in the `scripts' directory. - The header file and library directories are `include/mysql' and `lib/mysql' rather than `include' and `lib'.
You can create your own binary installation from a compiled source distribution by executing the `scripts/make_binary_distribution' script from the top directory of the source distribution.
2.2 Standard MySQL Installation Using a Binary Distribution
The next several sections cover the installation of MySQL on platforms where we offer packages using the native packaging format of the respective platform. (This is also known as performing a ``binary install.'') However, binary distributions of MySQL are available for many other platforms as well. See section 2.7 Installing MySQL on Other Unix-Like Systems for generic installation instructions for these packages that apply to all platforms.
See section 2.1 General Installation Issues for more information on what other binary distributions are available and how to obtain them.
2.3 Installing MySQL on Windows
A native Windows version of MySQL has been available from MySQL AB since version 3.21 and has grown in popularity until it now represents a sizable percentage of the daily downloads of MySQL. This section describes the process for installing MySQL on Windows.
With the release of MySQL 4.1.5, MySQL AB has introduced a new installer for the Windows version of MySQL, combined with a new GUI Configuration Wizard. This combination automatically installs MySQL, creates an option file, starts the server, and secures the default user accounts.
If you have already installed a version of MySQL prior to version 4.1.5, you must perform the following steps:
- Obtain and install the distribution.
- Set up an option file if necessary.
- Select the server that you want to use.
- Start the server.
- Assign passwords to the initial MySQL accounts.
This process also must be followed with newer MySQL installations where the installation package does not include an installer.
MySQL for Windows is available in two distribution formats:
- The binary distribution contains a setup program that installs everything you need so that you can start the server immediately.
- The source distribution contains all the code and support files for building the executables using the VC++ 6.0 compiler.
Generally speaking, you should use the binary distribution. It's simpler, and you need no additional tools to get MySQL up and running.
This section describes how to install MySQL on Windows using a binary distribution. To install using a source distribution, see section 2.8.6 Installing MySQL from Source on Windows.
2.3.1 Windows System Requirements
To run MySQL on Windows, you need the following:
- A 32-bit Windows operating system such as 9x, Me, NT, 2000, XP, or Windows Server 2003. A Windows NT based operating system (NT, 2000, XP, 2003) permits you to run the MySQL server as a service. The use of a Windows NT based operating system is strongly recommended. See section 2.3.12 Starting MySQL as a Windows Service.
- TCP/IP protocol support.
- A copy of the MySQL binary distribution for Windows, which can be downloaded from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/. See section 2.1.3 How to Get MySQL. Note: If you download the distribution via FTP, we recommend the use of an adequate FTP client with a resume feature to avoid corruption of files during the download process.
- A tool that can read `.zip' files, to unpack the distribution file.
- Enough space on the hard drive to unpack, install, and create the databases in accordance with your requirements (generally a minimum of 200 megabytes is recommended.)
You may also have the following optional requirements:
- If you plan to connect to the MySQL server via ODBC, you also need a Connector/ODBC driver. See section 22.1 MySQL ODBC Support.
-
If you need tables with a size larger than 4GB, install MySQL
on an NTFS or newer filesystem. Don't forget to use
MAX_ROWSandAVG_ROW_LENGTHwhen you create tables. See section 13.2.6CREATE TABLESyntax.
2.3.2 Choosing An Installation Package
Starting with MySQL version 4.1.5, there are three install packages to choose from when installing MySQL on Windows. The Packages are as follows:
- The Essentials Package: This package has a filename similar to `mysql-essential-4.1.9-win32.msi' and contains the minimum files needed to install MySQL on Windows, including the Configuration Wizard. This package does not include optional components such as the embedded server and benchmark suite.
- The Complete Package: This package has a filename similar to `mysql-4.1.9-win32.zip' and contains all files needed for a complete Windows installation, including the Configuration Wizard. This package includes optional components such as the embedded server and benchmark suite.
- The Noinstall Archive: This package has a filename similar to `mysql-noinstall-4.1.9-win32.zip' and contains all the files found in the Complete install package, with the exception of the Configuration Wizard. This package does not include an automated installer, and must be manually installed and configured.
The Essentials package is recommended for most users.
Your choice of install package affects the installation process you must follow. If you choose to install either the Essentials or Complete install packages, see section 2.3.3 Installing MySQL with the Automated Installer. If you choose to install MySQL from the Noinstall archive, see section 2.3.6 Installing MySQL from a noinstall Zip Archive.
2.3.3 Installing MySQL with the Automated Installer
Starting with MySQL 4.1.5, users can use the new MySQL Installation Wizard and MySQL Configuration Wizard to install MySQL on Windows. The MySQL Installation Wizard and MySQL Configuration Wizard are designed to install and configure MySQL in such a way that new users can immediately get started using MySQL.
The MySQL Installation Wizard and MySQL Configuration Wizard are available in the Essentials and Complete install packages, and are recommended for most standard MySQL installations. Exceptions include users who need to install multiple instances of MySQL on a single server and advanced users who want complete control of server configuration.
If you are installing a version of MySQL prior to MySQL 4.1.5, please follow the instructions for installing MySQL from the Noinstall installation package. See section 2.3.6 Installing MySQL from a noinstall Zip Archive.
2.3.4 Using the MySQL Installation Wizard
2.3.4.1 Introduction
MySQL Installation Wizard is a new installer for the MySQL server that uses the latest installer technologies for Microsoft Windows. The MySQL Installation Wizard, in combination with the MySQL Configuration Wizard, allows a user to install and configure a MySQL server that is ready for use immediately after installation.
The MySQL Installation Wizard is the standard installer for all MySQL server distributions, version 4.1.5 and higher. Users of previous versions of MySQL need to manually shut down and remove their existing MySQL installations before installing MySQL with the MySQL Installation Wizard. See section 2.3.4.7 Upgrading MySQL for more information on upgrading from a previous version.
Microsoft has included an improved version of their Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) in the recent versions of Windows. Using the MSI has become the de-facto standard for application installations on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. The MySQL Installation Wizard makes use of this technology to provide a smoother and more flexible installation progress.
The Microsoft Windows Installer Engine was updated with the release of Windows XP; those using a previous version of Windows can reference this Microsoft Knowledge Base article for information on upgrading to the latest version of the Windows Installer Engine.
Further, Microsoft has introduced the WiX (Windows Installer XML) tool set recently. It is the first highly acknowledged Open Source project from Microsoft. We switched to WiX because it is an Open Source project and it allows us to handle the complete Windows installation process in a flexible way with scripts.
Improving the MySQL Installation Wizard depends on the support and feedback of users like you. If you find that the MySQL Installation Wizard is lacking some feature important to you, or if you discover a bug, please use our MySQL Bug System to request features or report problems.
2.3.4.2 Downloading and Starting the MySQL Installation Wizard
The MySQL server install packages can be downloaded from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/. If the package you download is contained within a Zip archive, you need to extract the archive first.
The process for starting the wizard depends on the contents of the
install package you download. If there is a
setup.exe file present, double-click it to start
the install process. If there is a .msi file
present, double-click it to start the install process.
2.3.4.3 Choosing an Install Type
There are up three installation types available:
Typical, Complete, and
Custom.
The Typical installation type installs the MySQL
server, the mysql command-line client, and the
command-line utilities. The command-line clients and utilities
include mysqldump, myisamchk,
and several other tools to help you manage the MySQL server.
The Complete installation type installs all
components included in the installation package. The full
installation package includes components such as the embedded server
library, the benchmark suite, support scripts, and documentation.
The Custom installation type gives you complete
control over which packages you wish to install and the installation
path that will be used. See
section 2.3.4.4 The Custom Install Dialog
for more information on performing a custom install.
If you choose the Typical or
Complete installation types and click the
Next button, you advance to the confirmation
screen to confirm your choices and begin the installation. If you
choose the Custom installation type and click the
Next button, you advance to the custom install
dialog, described in
section 2.3.4.4 The Custom Install Dialog
2.3.4.4 The Custom Install Dialog
If you wish to change the installation path or the specific
components that are installed by the MySQL Installation Wizard, you should
choose the Custom installation type.
All available components are listed in a tree view on the left side
of the custom install dialog. Components that will not be installed
have a red X icon, components that will be
installed have a gray icon. To change whether a component is
installed, click on the component's icon and choose an new option
from the drop-down list that appears.
You can change the default installation path by clicking the Change... button to the right of the displayed installation path.
After choosing your install components and installation path, click the Next button to advance to the confirmation dialog.
2.3.4.5 The Confirmation Dialog
Once you choose an installation type and optionally choose your installation components, you advance to the confirmation dialog. Your installation type and installation path are displayed for you to review.
To install MySQL if you are satisfied with your settings, click the Install button. To change your settings, click the Back button. To exit the MySQL Installation Wizard without installing MySQL, click the Cancel button.
After installation is complete, you will be given the option of registering with the MySQL web site. Registration will give you access to post in the MySQL forums at forums.mysql.com, along with the ability to report bugs at bugs.mysql.com and subscribe to the newsletter. The final screen of the installer provides a summary of the installation and gives you the option to launch the MySQL Configuration Wizard, which you can use to create a configuration file, install the MySQL service, and configure security.
2.3.4.6 Changes Made by MySQL Installation Wizard
Once you click the Install button, the MySQL Installation Wizard begins the installation process and makes certain changes to your system which are described in the sections that follow.
Changes to the Registry
The MySQL Installation Wizard creates one Windows registry key in a typical
install situation, located in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MySQL AB.
The MySQL Installation Wizard creates a key named after the major version of
the server that is being installed, such as MySQL Server
4.1. It contains two string values,
Location and Version. The
Location string contains the path to the
installation directory. In a default installation it contains
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1\. The
Version string contains the release number. For
example, for an installation of MySQL Server 4.1.5 the key contains
a value of 4.1.5.
These registry keys are used to help external tools identify the
installed location of the MySQL server, preventing a complete scan
of the hard-disk to determine the installation path of the MySQL
server. The registry keys are not required to run the server and
when using the noinstall Zip archive the registry
keys are not created.
Changes to the Start Menu
The MySQL Installation Wizard creates a new entry in the Windows Start menu under a common MySQL menu heading named after the major version of MySQL that you have installed. For example, if you install MySQL 4.1, the MySQL Installation Wizard creates a MySQL Server 4.1 section in the start menu.
The following entries are created within the new Start menu section:
-
MySQL Command Line Client: This is a shortcut to themysqlcommand-line client and is configured to connect as therootuser. The shortcut prompts for arootuser password when connecting. -
MySQL Server Instance Config Wizard: This is a shortcut to the MySQL Configuration Wizard. Use this shortcut to configure a newly installed server, or to re-configure an existing server. -
MySQL Documentation: This is a link to the MySQL server documentation that is stored locally in the MySQL server installation directory. This option is not available when the MySQL server is installed from theessentialinstallation package.
Changes to the File System
The MySQL Installation Wizard by default installs the MySQL server to
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL
Server 4.1, where
Program Files is the default location for
applications in your system, and 4.1 is
the major version of your MySQL server. This is the new recommended
location for the MySQL server, replacing the previous default
location of `c:\mysql'.
By default, all MySQL applications are stored in a common directory
at C:\Program
Files\MySQL, where Program
Files is the default location for applications in your
Windows installation. A typical MySQL installation on a developer
machine may look like this:
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1 C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0 C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Administrator 1.0 C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Query Browser 1.0
This approach makes it easier to manage and maintain all MySQL applications installed on a particular system.
2.3.4.7 Upgrading MySQL
From MySQL version 4.1.5, the new MySQL Installation Wizard can perform server upgrades automatically using the upgrade capabilities of MSI. That means you do not need to remove a previous installation manually before installing a new release. The installer automatically shuts down and removes the previous MySQL service before installing the new version.
Automatic upgrades are only available when upgrading between installations that have the same major and minor version numbers. For example, you can upgrade automatically from MySQL 4.1.5 to MySQL 4.1.6, but not from MySQL 4.1 to MySQL 5.0.
If you are upgrading MySQL version 4.1.4 or earlier to version 4.1.5 or later, you must first manually shut down and remove the older installation before upgrading. Be sure to back up your databases before performing such an upgrade, so that you can restore the databases after the upgrade is completed. It is always recommended that you back up your data before performing any upgrades.
See section 2.3.15 Upgrading MySQL on Windows.
2.3.5 Using the Configuration Wizard
2.3.5.1 Introduction
The MySQL Configuration Wizard helps automate the processs of configuring your server under Windows. The MySQL Configuration Wizard creates a custom `my.ini' file by asking you a series of questions and then applying your responses to a template to generate a `my.ini' file that is tuned to your installation.
The MySQL Configuration Wizard is included with the MySQL server starting with MySQL version 4.1.5, but is designed to work with MySQL servers versions 4.0 and higher. The MySQL Configuration Wizard is currently available for Windows users only.
MySQL Configuration Wizard is to a large extent the result of feedback MySQL AB has received from many users over a period of several years. However, if you find it's lacking some feature important to you, or if you discover a bug, please use our MySQL Bug System to request features or report problems.
2.3.5.2 Starting the MySQL Configuration Wizard
The MySQL Configuration Wizard is typically launched from the MySQL Installation Wizard,
as the MySQL Installation Wizard exits. You can also launch the
MySQL Configuration Wizard by clicking the MySQL Server Instance Config
Wizard entry in the MySQL section of the
Start menu.
In addition, you can navigate to the bin directory
of your MySQL installation and launch the
`MySQLInstanceConfig.exe' file directly.
2.3.5.3 Choosing a Maintenance Option
If the MySQL Configuration Wizard detects an existing `my.ini' file, you will have the option of either re-configuring your existing server, or removing the server instance by deleting the `my.ini' file and stopping and removing the MySQL service.
To reconfigure an existing server, choose the Re-configure
Instance option and click the Next
button. Your existing `my.ini' file will be
renamed to my
timestamp.ini.bak, where
timestamp is the date and time the
existing `my.ini' file was created. To remove the
existing server instance, choose the Remove
Instance option and click the Next
button.
If you choose the Remove Instance option, you
advance to a confirmation window. Click the
Execute button and the MySQL Configuration Wizard will
stop and remove the MySQL service and delete the
`my.ini' file. The server installation and its
data folder will not be removed.
If you choose the Re-configure Instance option,
you advance to the Configuration Type dialog where
you can choose the type of installation you wish to configure.
2.3.5.4 Choosing a Configuration Type
When you start the MySQL Configuration Wizard for a new MySQL installation, or
choose the Re-configure Instance option for an
existing installation, you advance to the Configuration
Type dialog.
There are two configuration types available: Detailed
Configuration and Standard
Configuration. The Standard
Configuration option is intended for new users who want to
get started with MySQL quickly without having to make a lot of
decisions in regards to server configuration. The Detailed
Configuration option is intended for advanced users who
want more fine-grained control of server configuration.
If you are new to MySQL and need a server configured as a
single-user developer machine the Standard
Configuration will suit your needs. Choosing the
Standard Configuration option causes the
MySQL Configuration Wizard to automatically set all configuration options with
the exception of the Service Options and
Security Options.
The Standard Configuration sets options that may
be incompatible with systems where there are existing MySQL
installations. If you have an existing MySQL installation on your
system in addition to the installation you wish to configure, the
Detailed Configuration option is recommended.
To complete the Standard Configuration, please refer to the sections
on Service Options and Security Options, located at
section 2.3.5.11 The Service Options Dialog and section 2.3.5.12 The Security Options Dialog
respectively.
2.3.5.5 The Server Type Dialog
There are three different server types available to choose from, and the server type you choose will affect the decisions the MySQL Configuration Wizard makes with regards to memory, disk, and processor usage.
-
Developer Machine: Choose this option for a typical desktop workstation where MySQL is intended only for personal use. It is assumed that many other desktop applications will be running. The MySQL server will be configured to use minimal system resources. -
Server Machine: Choose this option for a server machine where the MySQL server will be running alongside other server applications such as FTP, email, and web servers. The MySQL server will be configured to use a medium portion of the system resources. -
Dedicated MySQL Server Machine: Choose this option for a server machine that is intended to run only the MySQL server. It is assumed that no other applications will be running. The MySQL server will be configured to use all available system resources.
2.3.5.6 The Database Usage Dialog
The Database Usage dialog allows you to indicate
the table handlers you expect to use when creating MySQL tables. The
option you choose will determine whether the InnoDB table handler is
available and what percentage of the server resources are available
to InnoDB.
-
Multifunctional Database: This option enables both the InnoDB and MyISAM table handlers and divides resources evenly between the two. This option is recommended for users that will use both table handlers on a regular basis. -
Transactional Database Only: This option enables both the InnoDB and MyISAM table handlers but dedicates most server resources toward the InnoDB table handler. This option is recommended for users that will use InnoDB almost exclusively and will make only minimal use of MyISAM. -
Non-Transactional Database Only: This option disables the InnoDB table handler completely and dedicates all server resources to the MyISAM table handler. This option is recommended for users who will not be using InnoDB.
2.3.5.7 The InnoDB Tablespace Dialog
Some users may want to locate the InnoDB tablespace files in a different location than the MySQL server data directory. Placing the tablespace files in a seperate location can be desireable if your system has a higher capacity or higher performance storage device available, such as a RAID storage system.
To change the default location for the InnoDB tablespace files, choose a new drive from the drop-down list of drive letters and choose a new path from the drop-down list of paths. To create a custom path, click the ... button.
If you are modifying the configuration of an existing server, you must click the Modify button before you change the path. In this situation you will have to manually move the existing tablespace files to the new location before starting the server.
2.3.5.8 The Concurrent Connections Dialog
It is important to set a limit to the number of concurrent
connections to the MySQL server that can be established to prevent
the server from running out of resources. The Concurrent
Connections dialog allows you to choose the expected usage
of your server, and will set the limit for concurrent connections
accordingly. It is also possible to manually set the concurrent
connection limit.
-
Decision Support (DSS)/OLAP: Choose this option if your server will not require a large number of concurrent connections. The maximum number of connections will be set at 100, with an average of 20 concurrent connections assumed. -
Online Transaction Processing (OLTP): Choose this option if your server will require a large number of concurrent connections. The maximum number of connections will be set at 500. -
Manual Setting: Choose this option to manually set the maximum number of concurrent connections to the server. Choose the number of concurrent connections from the drop-down box provided, or type the maximum number of connections into the drop-down box if the number you desire is not listed.
2.3.5.9 The Networking Options Dialog
Use the Networking Options dialog to enable or
disable TCP/IP networking and to configure the port number that is
used to connect to the MySQL server.
TCP/IP networking is enabled by default. To disable TCP/IP
networking, uncheck the box next to the Enable TCP/IP
Networking option.
Port 3306 is used by default. To change the port used to access MySQL, choose a new port number from the drop-down box or type a new port number directly into the drop-down box. If the port number you choose is already in use you will be prompted to confirm your choice of port number.
2.3.5.10 The Character Set Dialog
The MySQL server supports multiple character sets and it is possible
to set a default server character set that will be applied to all
tables, columns, and databases unless overridden. Use the
Character Set dialog to change the default
character set of the MySQL server.
-
Standard Character Set: Choose this option if you want to useLatin1as the default server character set.Latin1is used for English and many Western European languages. -
Best Support For Multilingualism: Choose this option if you want to useUTF8as the default server character set.UTF8can store characters from many different languages in a single character set. -
Manual Selected Default Character Set / Collation: Choose this option if you want to pick the server's default character set manually. Choose the desired character set from the provided drop-down list.
2.3.5.11 The Service Options Dialog
On Windows NT based platforms, the MySQL server can be installed as a service. When installed as a service, the MySQL server can be started automatically during system startup, and even restarted automatically by Windows in the event of a service failure.
The MySQL Configuration Wizard will install the MySQL server as a service by
default, using the service name MySQL. If you do
not wish to install the service, un-check the box next to the
Install As Windows Service option. You can changed
the service name by picking a new service name from the drop-down box
provided or by typing a new service name into the drop-down box.
To install the MySQL server as a service but not have it started
automatically at startup, un-check the box next to the
Launch the MySQL Server automatically option.
2.3.5.12 The Security Options Dialog
It is strongly recommended that you set a root password for your
MySQL server, and the MySQL Configuration Wizard requires you set a root
password by default. If you do not wish to set a root password,
un-check the box next to the Modify Security
Settings option.
To set the root password, type the desired password into both the
New root password and Confirm
boxes. If you are re-configuring an existing server, you will also
need to enter the existing root password into the Current
root password box.
To prevent root logins from across the network, check the box next to
the Root may only connect from localhost option.
This will increase the security of your root account.
To create an anonymous user account, check the box next to the
Create An Anonymous Account option. Creating an
anonymous account can decrease server security and cause login and
permission difficulties and is not recommended.
2.3.5.13 The Confirmation Dialog
The final dialog in the MySQL Configuration Wizard is the Confirmation
Dialog. To start the configuration process, click the
Execute button. To return to a previous
dialog, click the Back button. To exit the
MySQL Configuration Wizard without configuring the server, click the
Cancel button.
After you click the Execute button, the MySQL Configuration Wizard will perform a series of tasks with progress displayed onscreen as the tasks are performed.
The MySQL Configuration Wizard will first determine various configuration file options based on your choices using a template prepared by MySQL AB developers and engineers. This template is named `my-template.ini' and is located in your server installation directory.
The MySQL Configuration Wizard will then write these options to a
`my.ini' file. The final location of the
`my.ini' file will be displayed next to the
Write configuration file task.
If you chose to create a service for the MySQL server the MySQL Configuration Wizard will create the service and start it. If you are re-configuring an existing service, the MySQL Configuration Wizard will restart the service to apply your configuration changes.
If you chose to set a root password, the MySQL Configuration Wizard will connect
to the server and set your new root password and apply any other
security setting you may have selected.
After the MySQL Configuration Wizard has completed its tasks, a summary will be shown. Click the Finish button to exit the MySQL Configuration Wizard.
2.3.5.14 The Location of the my.ini File
In MySQL installations prior to version 4.1.5 it was customary to name the server configuration file `my.cnf' or `my.ini' and locate the file either at `c:\my.cnf' or `c:\Windows\my.ini'.
The new MySQL Configuration Wizard places the `my.ini' file in the installation directory of the MySQL server. This helps associate configuration files with particular server instances.
To ensure that the MySQL server knows where to look for the
`my.ini' file, an argument similar to this is
passed to the MySQL server as part of the service installation:
--defaults-file="C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL
Server 4.1\my.ini", where
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1 is
replaced with the installation path to the MySQL Server.
The --defaults-file instructs the MySQL server to
read the specified file for configuration options.
2.3.5.15 Editing The my.ini File
To modify the `my.ini' file, open it with a text editor and make any necessary changes. You can also modify the server configuration with the MySQL Administrator utility.
MySQL clients and utilities such as the mysql
command-line client and mysqldump will not locate
the `my.ini' file located in the server
installation directory. To configure the client and utility
applications, create a new `my.ini' file in the
`c:\Windows' directory.
2.3.6 Installing MySQL from a noinstall Zip Archive
Users who are installing from the Noinstall package, or who are installing a version of MySQL prior to 4.1.5 can use the instructions in this section to manually install MySQL. If you are installing a version prior to 4.1.5 with an install package that includes a Setup program, substitute running the Setup program for extracting the archive.
The process for installing MySQL from a Zip archive is as follows:
- Extract the archive to the desired install directory.
- Create an option file.
- Choose a MySQL server type.
- Start the MySQL server.
- Secure the default user accounts.
This process is described in the sections that follow.
2.3.7 Extracting the Install Archive
To install MySQL manually, do the following:
- If you are upgrading from a previous version please refer to section 2.3.15 Upgrading MySQL on Windows before beginning the upgrade process.
- If you are using a Windows NT-based operating system such as Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003, make sure that you are logged in as a user with administrator privileges.
- Choose an installation location. Traditionally the MySQL server is installed at `C:\mysql', and the new MySQL Installation Wizard installs MySQL to `C:\Program Files\MySQL'. If you do not install MySQL at `C:\mysql', you must specify the path to the install directory during startup or in an option file. See section 2.3.8 Creating an Option File.
- Extract the install archive to the chosen installation location using your preferred Zip archive tool. Some tools may extract the archive to a folder within your chosen installation location. If this occurs you can move the contents of the subfolder into the chosen installation location.
2.3.8 Creating an Option File
If you need to specify startup options when you run the server, you can indicate them on the command line or place them in an option file. For options that will be used every time the server starts, you will find it most convenient to use an option file to specify your MySQL configuration. This is true particularly under the following circumstances:
- The installation or data directory locations are different from the default locations (`C:\mysql' and `C:\mysql\data').
-
You need to tune the server settings. For example, to use the
InnoDBtransactional tables in MySQL 3.23, you must manually add some extra lines to the option file, as described in section 15.4InnoDBConfiguration. (As of MySQL 4.0,InnoDBcreates its data files and log files in the data directory by default. This means you need not configureInnoDBexplicitly. You may still do so if you wish, and an option file will be useful in this case, too.)
When the MySQL server starts on Windows, it looks for options in
two files: the `my.ini' file in the Windows directory, and
the `C:\my.cnf' file. The Windows directory typically is
named something like `C:\WINDOWS' or `C:\WinNT'. You
can determine its exact location from the value of the WINDIR
environment variable using the following command:
C:\> echo %WINDIR%
MySQL looks for options first in the `my.ini' file, then in
the `my.cnf' file. However, to avoid confusion, it's best if
you use only one file. If your PC uses a boot loader where the
C: drive isn't the boot drive, your only option is to use
the `my.ini' file. Whichever option file you use, it must be a plain
text file.
You can also make use of the example option files included with your MySQL distribution. Look in your install directory for files such as my-small.cnf, my-medium.cnf, my-large.cnf, etc., which you can rename and copy to the appropriate location for use as a base configuration file.
An option file can be created and modified with any text editor,
such as the Notepad program. For example, if MySQL is
installed at `E:\mysql' and the data directory is located at
`E:\mydata\data', you can create the option file and set up
a [mysqld] section to specify values for the basedir
and datadir parameters:
[mysqld] # set basedir to your installation path basedir=E:/mysql # set datadir to the location of your data directory datadir=E:/mydata/data
Note that Windows pathnames are specified in option files using forward slashes rather than backslashes. If you do use backslashes, you must double them:
[mysqld] # set basedir to your installation path basedir=E:\\mysql # set datadir to the location of your data directory datadir=E:\\mydata\\data
On Windows, the MySQL installer places the data directory directly under the directory where you install MySQL. If you would like to use a data directory in a different location, you should copy the entire contents of the `data' directory to the new location. For example, by default, the installer places MySQL in `C:\mysql' and the data directory in `C:\mysql\data'. If you want to use a data directory of `E:\mydata', you must do two things:
- Move the data directory from `C:\mysql\data' to `E:\mydata'.
-
Use a
--datadiroption to specify the new data directory location each time you start the server.
2.3.9 Selecting a MySQL Server type
Starting with MySQL 3.23.38, the Windows distribution includes both the normal and the MySQL-Max server binaries.
Up through the early releases of MySQL 4.1, the servers included in Windows distributions are named like this:
| Binary | Description |
mysqld | Compiled with full debugging and automatic memory allocation checking, symbolic links, and InnoDB and BDB tables.
|
mysqld-opt | Optimized binary. From version 4.0 on, InnoDB is enabled. Before 4.0, this server includes no transactional table support.
|
mysqld-nt | Optimized binary for Windows NT, 2000, and XP with support for named pipes. |
mysqld-max | Optimized binary with support for symbolic links, and InnoDB and BDB tables.
|
mysqld-max-nt | Like mysqld-max, but compiled with support for named pipes.
|
We have found that the server with the most generic name
(mysqld) is the one that many users are likely to choose
by default. However, that is also the server that results in the
highest memory and CPU use due to the inclusion of full debugging
support. The server named mysqld-opt is a better general-use
server choice to make instead if you don't need debugging suport
and don't want the maximal feature set offered by the -max
servers or named pipe support offered by the -nt servers.
To make it less likely that the debugging server would be chosen
inadvertantly, some name changes were made from MySQL 4.1.2 to
4.1.4: mysqld has been renamed to mysqld-debug
and mysqld-opt has been renamed to mysqld.
Thus, the server that includes debugging support indicates that in
its name, and the server named mysqld is an efficient
default choice. The other servers still have their same names. The
resulting servers are named like this:
| Binary | Description |
mysqld-debug | Compiled with full debugging and automatic memory allocation checking, symbolic links, and InnoDB and BDB tables.
|
mysqld | Optimized binary with InnoDB support.
|
mysqld-nt | Optimized binary for Windows NT, 2000, and XP with support for named pipes. |
mysqld-max | Optimized binary with support for symbolic links, and InnoDB and BDB tables.
|
mysqld-max-nt | Like mysqld-max, but compiled with support for named pipes.
|
The name changes were not both instituted at the same time. If you
have MySQL 4.1.2 or 4.1.3, it might be that you have a server named
mysqld-debug but not one named mysqld. In this
case, you should have a server mysqld-opt, which you
should choose as your default server unless you need maximal features,
named pipes, or debugging support.
All of the preceding binaries are optimized for modern Intel processors, but should work on any Intel i386-class or higher processor.
MySQL supports TCP/IP on all Windows platforms. The mysqld-nt
and mysql-max-nt servers support named pipes on Windows NT, 2000, XP, and 2003.
However, the default is to use TCP/IP regardless of the platform.
(Named pipes are slower than TCP/IP in many Windows configurations.)
Named pipe use is subject to these conditions:
-
Starting from MySQL 3.23.50, named pipes are enabled only
if you start the server with the
--enable-named-pipeoption. It is now necessary to use this option explicitly because some users have experienced problems shutting down the MySQL server when named pipes were used. -
Named pipe connections are allowed only by the
mysqld-ntormysqld-max-ntservers, and only if the server is run on a version of Windows that supports named pipes (NT, 2000, XP, 2003). - These servers can be run on Windows 98 or Me, but only if TCP/IP is installed; named pipe connections cannot be used.
- These servers can not be run on Windows 95.
Note:
Most of the examples in reference manual use mysqld as the
server name. If you choose to use a different server, such as
mysqld-nt, make the appropriate substitutions in the commands that
are shown in the examples.
2.3.10 Starting the Server for the First Time
On Windows 95, 98, or Me, MySQL clients always connect to the server using TCP/IP. (This allows any machine on your network to connect to your MySQL server.) Because of this, you must make sure that TCP/IP support is installed on your machine before starting MySQL. You can find TCP/IP on your Windows CD-ROM.
Note that if you are using an old Windows 95 release (for example, OSR2), it's likely that you have an old Winsock package; MySQL requires Winsock 2! You can get the newest Winsock from http://www.microsoft.com/. Windows 98 has the new Winsock 2 library, so it is unnecessary to update the library.
On NT-based systems such as Windows NT, 2000, XP, or 2003, clients have two options. They can use TCP/IP, or they can use a named pipe if the server supports named pipe connections.
In MySQL versions 4.1 and higher, Windows servers also support shared-memory
connections if started with the --shared-memory option. Clients can
connect through shared memory by using the --protocol=memory option.
For information about which server binary to run, see section 2.3.9 Selecting a MySQL Server type.
This section gives a general overview of starting the MySQL server. The following sections provide more specific information for starting the MySQL server from the command line or as a Windows service.
The examples in these sections assume that MySQL is installed under the default location of `C:\mysql'. Adjust the pathnames shown in the examples if you have MySQL installed in a different location.
Testing is best done from a command prompt in a console window (a ``DOS window''). This way you can have the server display status messages in the window where they are easy to see. If something is wrong with your configuration, these messages make it easier for you to identify and fix any problems.
To start the server, enter this command:
C:\> C:\mysql\bin\mysqld --console
For servers that include InnoDB support,
you should see the following messages as the server starts:
InnoDB: The first specified datafile c:\ibdata\ibdata1 did not exist: InnoDB: a new database to be created! InnoDB: Setting file c:\ibdata\ibdata1 size to 209715200 InnoDB: Database physically writes the file full: wait... InnoDB: Log file c:\iblogs\ib_logfile0 did not exist: new to be created InnoDB: Setting log file c:\iblogs\ib_logfile0 size to 31457280 InnoDB: Log file c:\iblogs\ib_logfile1 did not exist: new to be created InnoDB: Setting log file c:\iblogs\ib_logfile1 size to 31457280 InnoDB: Log file c:\iblogs\ib_logfile2 did not exist: new to be created InnoDB: Setting log file c:\iblogs\ib_logfile2 size to 31457280 InnoDB: Doublewrite buffer not found: creating new InnoDB: Doublewrite buffer created InnoDB: creating foreign key constraint system tables InnoDB: foreign key constraint system tables created 011024 10:58:25 InnoDB: Started
When the server finishes its startup sequence, you should see something like this, which indicates that the server is ready to service client connections:
mysqld: ready for connections Version: '4.0.14-log' socket: '' port: 3306
The server will continue to write to the console any further diagnostic output it produces. You can open a new console window in which to run client programs.
If you omit the --console option, the server writes diagnostic output
to the error log in the data directory (`C:\mysql\data' by default).
The error log is the file with the `.err' extension.
Note: The accounts that are listed in the MySQL grant tables initially have no passwords. After starting the server, you should set up passwords for them using the instructions in section 2.9 Post-Installation Setup and Testing.
2.3.11 Starting MySQL from the Windows Command Line
The MySQL server can be started manually from the command line. This can be done on any version of Windows.
To start the mysqld server from the command line, you should
start a console window (a ``DOS window'') and enter this command:
C:\> C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1\bin\mysqld
The path used in the preceding example may vary depending on the install location of MySQL on your system.
On non-NT versions of Windows, this will start mysqld in the
background. That is, after the server starts, you should see another
command prompt. If you start the server this way on Windows NT, 2000, or XP,
the server will run in the foreground and no command prompt will appear
until the server exits. Because of this, you should open another console
window to run client programs while the server is running.
You can stop the MySQL server by executing this command:
C:\> C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1\bin\mysqladmin -u root shutdown
This invokes the MySQL administrative utility mysqladmin to
connect to the server and tell it to shut down. The command connects
as root, which is the default administrative account in the
MySQL grant system. Note that users in the MySQL grant system
are wholly independent from any login users under Windows.
If mysqld doesn't start, check the error log to see whether the
server wrote any messages there to indicate the cause of the problem.
The error log is located in the `C:\mysql\data' directory. It is
the file with a suffix of `.err'. You can also try to start the
server as mysqld --console; in this case, you may get some useful
information on the screen that may help solve the problem.
The last option is to start mysqld with --standalone
--debug. In this case, mysqld writes a log file
`C:\mysqld.trace' that should contain the reason why mysqld
doesn't start. See section E.1.2 Creating Trace Files.
Use mysqld --verbose --help to display all the options that
mysqld understands. (Prior to MySQL 4.1, omit the
--verbose option.)
2.3.12 Starting MySQL as a Windows Service
On the NT family (Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003), the recommended way to run
MySQL is to install it as a Windows service. When MySQL is installed as a
service, Windows starts and stops the MySQL server automatically when
Windows starts and stops. A server installed as a service can also be
controlled from the command line using NET commands, or with the
graphical Services utility.
The Services utility (the Windows Service Control Manager) can
be found in the Windows Control Panel (under Administrative
Tools on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003). It is advisable to close the
Services utility while performing server installation or removal
operations from this command line. This prevents some odd errors.
To get MySQL to work with TCP/IP on Windows NT 4, you must install service pack 3 (or newer).
Before installing MySQL as a Windows service, you should first stop the current server if it is running by using the following command:
C:\> C:\mysql\bin\mysqladmin -u root shutdown
This invokes the MySQL administrative utility mysqladmin to
connect to the server and tell it to shut down. The command connects
as root, which is the default administrative account in the
MySQL grant system. Note that users in the MySQL grant system
are wholly independent from any login users under Windows.
Now install the server as a service:
C:\> mysqld --install
If you have problems installing mysqld as a
service using just the server name, try installing it using its full pathname:
C:\> C:\mysql\bin\mysqld --install
As of MySQL 4.0.2, you can specify a specific service name after the
--install option. As of MySQL 4.0.3, you can in addition specify a
--defaults-file option after the service name to indicate where the
server should obtain options when it starts. The rules that determine the
service name and option files the server uses are as follows:
-
If you specify no service name, the server uses the default service name of
MySQLand the server reads options from the[mysqld]group in the standard option files. -
If you specify a service name after the
--installoption, the server ignores the[mysqld]option group and instead reads options from the group that has the same name as the service. The server reads options from the standard option files. -
If you specify a
--defaults-fileoption after the service name, the server ignores the standard option files and reads options only from the[mysqld]group of the named file.
Note