Chapter 2. Installing MySQL
The MySQL database server and client software work on several different operating systems, notably Linux, FreeBSD, and a wide range of Unix systems: Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, HP-UX, and so on. MySQL AB has also developed a Mac OS X version, a Novell NetWare version, and several MS Windows versions. You can obtain a copy of the community version of MySQL from MySQL AB’s site (http://dev.mysql.com/downloads).
This chapter briefly explains the process of installing MySQL on Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, NetWare, and Windows operating systems. For some operating systems, there are additional sections for different distribution formats. For any one platform, you can install MySQL by reading just three sections of this chapter: the next section on Choosing a Distribution”; the section that applies to the distribution that you choose; and the section on Postinstallation” at the end of the chapter.
Choosing a Distribution
Before beginning to download an installation package, you must decide which version of MySQL to install. The best choice is usually the latest stable version recommended by MySQL AB on its site. This is the GA (Generally Available) release. It’s not recommended that you install a newer version unless you need some new feature that is contained only in one of the newer versions, such as the beta version or the RC (Release Candidate) version. It’s also not recommended that you install an older version unless you have an existing database or an API application ...
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