MySQL Reference Manual

Chapter 4. Database Administration

Configuring MySQL

mysqld Command-Line Options

In most cases you should manage mysqld options through option files. See Section 4.1.2.

mysqld and mysqld.server read options from the mysqld and server groups. mysqld_safe read options from the mysqld, server, mysqld_safe, and safe_mysqld groups. An embedded MySQL server usually reads options from the server, embedded, and xxxxx_SERVER, where xxxxx is the name of the application.

mysqld accepts the following command-line options:

--ansi

Use ANSI SQL syntax instead of MySQL syntax. See Section 1.7.2.

-b, --basedir=path

Path to installation directory. All paths are usually resolved relative to this.

--big-tables

Allow big result sets by saving all temporary sets on file. It solves most ‘table full’ errors, but also slows down the queries where in-memory tables would suffice. Since Version 3.23.2, MySQL is able to solve it automatically by using memory for small temporary tables and switching to disk tables where necessary.

--bind-address=IP

IP address to bind to.

--character-sets-dir=path

Directory where character sets are. See Section 4.6.1.

--chroot=path

Chroot mysqld daemon during startup. Recommended security measure. It will somewhat limit LOAD DATA INFILE and SELECT ... INTO OUTFILE though.

--core-file

Write a core file if mysqld dies. For some systems you must also specify --core-file-size to safe_mysqld. See Section 4.7.2. Note that on some systems like Solaris, you will not get a core file if ...