7.6 Installing MySQL on Linux Using Debian Packages from Oracle

Oracle provides Debian packages for installing MySQL on Debian or Debian-like Linux systems. The packages are available through two different channels:

• The MySQL APT Repository, supporting Debian and Ubuntu platforms. For details, see Section 7.3, “Installing MySQL on Linux Using the MySQL APT Repository”.

• The MySQL Developer Zone's Download Area. For details, see Section 2.3, “How to Get MySQL”. The following are some information on the Debian packages available there and the instructions for installing them:

  • You may also need to install the libaio library if it is not already present on your system:

    shell> sudo apt-get install libaio1

  • Various Debian packages are provided in the MySQL Developer Zone for installing different components of MySQL. The preferred method is to use the tarball bundle, which contains the packages needed for a basic setup of MySQL. The tarball bundles have names in the format of mysql-server_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb-bundle.tar. MVER is the MySQL version and DVER is the Linux distribution version. The CPU value indicates the processor type or family for which the package is built, as shown in the following table:

    Table 7.5 MySQL Debian and Ubuntu Installation Package CPU Identifiers

    CPU Value	Intended Processor Type or Family
    i386	Pentium processor or better, 32 bit
    amd64	64-bit x86 processor

    
    

  • After downloading the tarball, unpack it with the following command:

    shell> tar -xvf mysql-server_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb-bundle.tar

  • In general, install the deb packages unpacked from the tarball with the command (see explanations below for the extra steps required for installing the server package):

    shell> sudo dpkg -i package-name.deb

    There are four packages to install:

    • The database common files (install this package before the other ones):

      shell> sudo dpkg -i mysql-common_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb

    • The MySQL server:

      Install first the package for the database common files (see the last bullet), and then pre-configure your server installation by the following command:

      shell> sudo dpkg-preconfigure mysql-community-server_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb

      You will be asked to provide a password for the root user for your MySQL installation. You might also be asked other questions regarding the installation.

      Important

      Make sure you remember the root password you set. Users who want to set a password later can leave the password field blank in the dialogue box and just press OK. However, it is very important that you set the password soon using the program mysql_secure_installation, as people can gain anonymous access to your MySQL server until you have secured the database's root account with a password.

      Next, install the server package with the following command:

      shell> sudo dpkg -i mysql-community-server_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb

    • The MySQL client:

      shell> sudo dpkg -i mysql-community-client_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb

    • The MySQL shared client library:

      shell> sudo dpkg -i libmysqlclient18_MVER-DVER_CPU.deb

    Here are where the files are installed on the system:

    • All configuration files (like my.cnf) are under /etc

    • All binaries, libraries, headers, etc., are under /usr

    • The data directory is under /var

Note

Debian distributions of MySQL are also provided by other vendors. Be aware that they may differ from those built by Oracle in features, capabilities, and conventions (including communication setup), and that the instructions in this manual do not necessarily apply to installing them. The vendor's instructions should be consulted instead.