Install MySQL on Ubuntu

Updated on December 23, 2020
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Introduction

This Quickstart guide explains how to install MySQL on a Vultr Ubuntu cloud server. The guide applies to Ubuntu 16.04 through Ubuntu 20.10 LTS.

1. Deploy Ubuntu Server

Change to your sudo user for the remaining steps.

2. Install MySQL

  1. Install MySQL.

     $ sudo apt install mysql-server -y
  2. Enable MySQL to start on boot.

     $ sudo systemctl enable mysql
  3. Secure the database. Answer all the security questions as shown.

     $ sudo mysql_secure_installation

    * Initially, there is no password for root. Press Enter.

         Enter current password for root (enter for none):

    * Press Enter to enter a new password.

         Set root password? [Y/n]

    * Enter and confirm a root password for MySQL.

         New password:
         Re-enter new password:
         Password updated successfully!

    * Press Enter to remove the anonymous user.

         Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]

    * Press Enter to disallow remote root logins.

         Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]

    * Press Enter to remove the test database.

         Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]

    * Press Enter to reload the privilege tables.

         Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]

    This completes the basic security configuration.

3. Test

  1. Connect to the database as root.

     # mysql -u root -p -h localhost
  2. Create a test user.

     > CREATE USER 'test_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'test_pass';
  3. Create a test database.

     > CREATE DATABASE test_database;
  4. Grant the test user privileges on the test database.

     > GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON test_database.* TO 'test_user'@'localhost';
  5. Exit the database client.

     > quit

Conclusion

You have successfully installed MySQL on a Vultr Ubuntu cloud server. For more information, see the official MySQL documentation.