Appendix A. Installing MySQL

The ease of installing MySQL is one of the primary reasons for its adoption among web developers. Regardless of platform or OS versions, getting MySQL up and running and ready for use is one of the easiest installations of any database available.

This appendix explains how to install and configure MySQL for various operating systems and package formats.

The basic steps of installing MySQL involve determining what package you need to download for your particular operating system type, version, and hardware platform, as well as determining what version of MySQL you need to support the features your web application requires.

You also want to determine the minimum system requirements to run a particular version and configuration of MySQL.

Choosing a MySQL Version

Product-wise, MySQL offers a "community" server that is under the GPL (General Public License) and MySQL Enterprise — a commercial license. Businesses who want support and add-ons for things such as monitoring and backup may want to choose the commercial product. Individuals or businesses willing to take on the responsibility of maintaining their own database installation, administration, and monitoring can use the community server.

The next question is which version of MySQL to use. This depends on what features are needed and the level of acceptance (or aversion) you have for the possibility that some features might still need maturation. The versions available are summarized in the following table: ...

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