Installing MySQL on UNIX from a Source Distribution - MySQL

If you’re planning to install MySQL from a source distribution, you’ll need to untar the source tree and go through the traditional configure-make-make install cycle to get MySQL up and running. This is a fairly time-consuming and complex process, and it’s one that shouldn’t really be attempted by novice users; however, if you’re determined to do it, here’s how:

1. Ensure that you’re logged in as root:

   [user@host]# su - root

2. Switch to the directory containing the source tarball, and
    extract the files within it. (Note that you will need
    approximately 80 MB of free space for the source tree.)

  [root@host]# cd /tmp
  [root@host]# tar -xzvf mysql-4.0.9-gamma.tar.gz

     Remember to replace the file name in italics with the file 
     name  of your source tarball.

3. Move into the directory containing the source code,

  [root@host]# cd mysql-4.0.9-gamma

    and take a look at the contents with ls:

  [root@host]# ls -l

You should see something like Figure 3-5.

Figure 3-5.  The directory structure obtained on unpackaging of a MySQL source tarball on Linux 

Figure 3-6.  Configuring the MySQL source tree on Linux

Take a look at the sidebar entitled “Up a Tree” for more information on what each directory contains.

4. Now, set variables for the compile process via the included 
  configure script. (Note the use of the --prefix argument to 
    configure, which sets the default installation path for the
    compiled binaries.)

   You should see a few screens of output (Figure 3-6 has a
   sample) as configure configures and sets up the variables
   needed for the compilation process.

5. Now compile the program using make:

   [root@host]# make

    Watch as your screen fills up with all manner of strange
    symbols and characters  (see Figure 3-7).

   The compilation process takes a fair amount of time (refer to
   the sidebar titled “Watching the Clock” for my empirical
   observations on how long you’ll be waiting), so this is a good
   time to get yourself a cup of coffee or check your mail.

   Now that you’re all done, you can test to ensure that
   everything is working properly.

6. Run the following command:

    [root@host]# make tests

 
Figure 3-7.  Building MySQL on Linux

7. Install the MySQL binaries to their new home 
     in /usr/local/mysql:

   [root@host]# make install

    Figure 3-8 demonstrates what your screen should look like
    during the installation process.

Figure 3-8.  Installing complied MySQL binaries on Linux

8. Create the special mysql user and group with the groupadd
     and useradd commands:

  [root@host]# groupadd mysql
  [root@host]# useradd -g mysql mysql

9. Run the initialization script, mysql_install_db, which ships
    with the program, to prepare MySQL for operation:

10. Alter the ownership of the MySQL binaries so that they are
       owned by root:

      Now ensure that the newly minted mysql user has read/write
      access to the MySQL data directories:

   [root@host]# chown -R mysql /usr/local/mysql/var
   [root@host]# chgrp -R mysql /usr/local/mysql

11. Start the MySQL server by manually running the mysqld
       daemon:

   [root@host]# /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe –-
   user=mysql &

      MySQL should start up normally, reading the base tables
      created in /usr/local/mysql/var.

At this point, you can proceed to the section titled “Testing MySQL” to verify that everything is working as it should.