How to Install MySQL on Your Dedicated Server

How to Install MySQL on Your Dedicated Server

MySQL is one of the most popular relational database management systems used for hosting applications and websites. If you're running a dedicated server, installing MySQL will enable you to manage databases for your applications and websites efficiently. This guide will walk you through the steps to install MySQL on your dedicated server.

Step 1: Update Your System Packages

• Before installing MySQL, ensure your server is up-to-date with the latest software packages. This ensures you get the latest security patches and updates.

  To update your system, run the following command:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
  

  • This command will update the package list and upgrade any outdated packages on your server.

Step 2: Install MySQL Server

• To install MySQL, use your package manager. If you're using a Debian-based distribution (like Ubuntu), run the following command:

  sudo apt install mysql-server -y
  

  • If you're using a Red Hat-based distribution (like CentOS), run:

  sudo yum install mysql-server -y
  

• The installation process will begin, and your server will download and install MySQL.

Step 3: Start and Enable MySQL Service

• After installation, MySQL should start automatically. To confirm that MySQL is running, use the following command:

  sudo systemctl status mysql
  

  • This will show you the current status of the MySQL service. If it’s not running, you can start it with:

  sudo systemctl start mysql
  

• To ensure MySQL starts automatically on system boot, enable the service:

  sudo systemctl enable mysql
  

Step 4: Secure Your MySQL Installation

• After MySQL is installed, it's important to run the security script that comes with MySQL to secure the installation. This will help remove insecure default settings and improve the security of your MySQL installation.

  Run the following command:

  sudo mysql_secure_installation
  

• The script will ask you several questions:

  1. Set a root password: If you haven't already set a root password, you’ll be prompted to do so.
  2. Remove test databases and users: It's recommended to remove the default test database.
  3. Disallow root login remotely: It's a security best practice to disable remote root login.
  4. Remove insecure default settings: It’s recommended to allow the script to remove these settings.

  Follow the prompts to secure your MySQL installation.

Step 5: Log In to MySQL

• After securing your installation, you can log in to the MySQL server as the root user by running:

  sudo mysql -u root -p
  

  • Enter the root password you set during the previous step.

• Once logged in, you’ll see the MySQL prompt (mysql>), where you can begin managing your databases.

Step 6: Create a New MySQL User (Optional)

• It’s a good practice not to use the root account for everyday database operations. To create a new MySQL user with limited privileges, run the following commands:

  1. First, log into MySQL:

     sudo mysql -u root -p
     

  2. Create a new user with a strong password:

     CREATE USER 'newuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
     

     • Replace 'newuser' with your desired username and 'password' with a strong password for the new user.

  3. Grant privileges to the new user:

     GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'newuser'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;
     

  4. Flush privileges to ensure the new settings take effect:

     FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
     

  5. Exit MySQL:

     EXIT;
     

Step 7: Test MySQL Installation

• To verify that MySQL was installed and configured correctly, try connecting to the MySQL server using the new user account (or root account):

  mysql -u newuser -p
  

  • Replace newuser with the username you created earlier. If successful, you'll be logged into the MySQL shell, where you can manage databases.

Step 8: Configure MySQL to Allow Remote Connections (Optional)

• By default, MySQL is only accessible locally (from the server itself). If you need to allow remote connections, you need to modify the MySQL configuration file.

  1. Open the MySQL configuration file:

     sudo nano /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf
     

  2. Look for the following line:

     bind-address = 127.0.0.1
     

  3. Change 127.0.0.1 to 0.0.0.0 to allow connections from any IP address, or specify a particular IP address to restrict remote connections to a specific host:

     bind-address = 0.0.0.0
     

  4. Save the changes and exit the editor (press CTRL + X, then Y to confirm, and Enter).

  5. Restart the MySQL service to apply the changes:

     sudo systemctl restart mysql
     

Step 9: Open the MySQL Port in Your Firewall

• If you allowed remote connections, ensure the MySQL port (3306) is open in your firewall.

  For UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall), use:

  sudo ufw allow 3306
  

  For Firewalld (on CentOS/RHEL), use:

  sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=3306/tcp --permanent
  sudo firewall-cmd --reload
  

Step 10: Back Up Your MySQL Databases Regularly

• It's crucial to back up your MySQL databases to prevent data loss. Use the mysqldump utility to create backups:

  mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > all_databases_backup.sql
  

  • Replace root with your MySQL username and all_databases_backup.sql with the desired backup file name.

  • Store backups in a secure location.

By following these steps, you will have MySQL installed and properly configured on your dedicated server. This enables you to efficiently manage databases for your websites and applications. If you run into any issues during the installation, feel free to contact QuickServers support for assistance.