MySQL and macOS / Installing and Using the MySQL Preference Pane

Chapter 4 Installing and Using the MySQL Preference Pane

The MySQL Installation Package includes a MySQL preference pane that enables you to start, stop, and control automated startup during boot of your MySQL installation.

This preference pane is installed by default, and is listed under your system's System Preferences window.

Figure 4.1 MySQL Preference Pane: Location

Shows "MySQL" typed into the macOS System Preferences search box, and a highlighted "MySQL" icon in the bottom left.

The MySQL preference pane is installed with the same DMG file that installs MySQL Server. Typically it is installed with MySQL Server but it can be installed by itself too.

To install the MySQL preference pane:

Go through the process of installing the MySQL server, as described in the documentation at Chapter 2, Installing MySQL on macOS Using Native Packages.
Click Customize at the Installation Type step. The "Preference Pane" option is listed there and enabled by default; make sure it is not deselected. The other options, such as MySQL Server, can be selected or deselected.

Figure 4.2 MySQL Package Installer Wizard: Customize
Complete the installation process.

Note

The MySQL preference pane only starts and stops MySQL installation installed from the MySQL package installation that have been installed in the default location.

Once the MySQL preference pane has been installed, you can control your MySQL server instance using this preference pane.

The Instances page includes an option to start or stop MySQL, and Initialize Database recreates the data/ directory. Uninstall uninstalls MySQL Server and optionally the MySQL preference panel and launchd information.

Figure 4.3 MySQL Preference Pane: Instances

The left side shows a list of MySQL instances separated by "Active Instance", "Installed Instances", and "Data Directories" sections. The right side shows a "Stop MySQL Server" button, a check box titled "Start MySQL when your computer starts up", and "Initialize Database" and "Uninstall" buttons. Several fields reference 8.0.11 as the current installed MySQL version.

Figure 4.4 MySQL Preference Pane: Initialize Database

Shows an option to enter the root password, along with choosing between two password types: Strong Password Encryption that is suggested for MySQL 8 clients or Legacy Password Encryption with compatibility with older MySQL 5.x clients. The optional "Load configuration file" option is loaded by mysqld during initialization, and it notes that plugin-specific options may prevent the initialization from completing.

The Configuration page shows MySQL Server options including the path to the MySQL configuration file.

Figure 4.5 MySQL Preference Pane: Configuration

Content is described in the surrounding text.

The MySQL Preference Pane shows the current status of the MySQL server, showing stopped (in red) if the server is not running and running (in green) if the server has already been started. The preference pane also shows the current setting for whether the MySQL server has been set to start automatically.

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