Username: mysql
Full name: mysql
Uid (Leave empty for default):
Login group [mysql]:
Login group is mysql. Invite mysql into other groups? []:
Login class [default]:
Shell (sh csh tcsh bash nologin) [sh]: nologin
Home directory [/home/mysql]:
Use password-based authentication? [yes]:
Use an empty password? (yes/no) [no]:yes
Lock out account after creation? [no]:
OK? (yes/no): yes

Change to the directory where you downloaded the source and unpack the archive..

cd   /src
tar   -zxvf   mysql-4.0.18.tar.gz

Build and then run the configure script. This will create the Makefile needed to install the binary:

cd  mysql-4.0.18

vi   mysqlscript.sh

#!/bin/sh
#Mysql Configure Script - mysqlscript.sh

./configure --prefix=/usr/local/mysql \
            --mandir=/usr/local/man \
            --with-unix-socket-path=/usr/local/mysql/mysql.sock

Next make the file executable and then run it, followed by the usual install routine..

chmod   755   mysqlscript.sh

./mysqlscript.sh

make

make   install

The make in particular, can take a bit of time depending on your hardware. Go and have a coffee.

Once it's cooked, it's time to initialise the mysql database as the system user, mysql:

cd   /src/mysql-4.0.18/scripts
./mysql_install_db   --user=mysql

Note it is important to run this as user mysql as it allows the mysql user to start mysql

Warning The above requires a successful hostname to IP Address mapping. If the script finds a DNS Server in /etc/resolv.conf, there must be a Host entry in the DNS Server's database to resolve the MySQL box's hostname, before it will work. If there's no DNS server, put an entry in /etc/hosts.

Next, prepare the MySQL config file, my.cnf:

cd   /src/mysql-4.0.18/support-files
cp   my-medium.cnf   /etc/my.cnf

Edit my.cnf so the server/client can find the socket. Look for the lines under mysql server and mysql client and add the following line. Note that the install may have done this already..

vi   /etc/my.cnf

socket=/usr/local/mysql/mysql.sock (check, may already be set)

Secure the server by making the following changes to file permissions and ownership. The server cannot be run securely without making these changes..

chown   -R   mysql   /usr/local/mysql (-R = all the files in dir)
chgrp   -R   mysql   /usr/local/mysql
chmod   700   /usr/local/mysql/var (where the logs live, read only by owner)

Link all useful binaries to /usr/local/sbin

ln   -s   /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql   /usr/local/sbin/mysql
ln   -s   /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin   /usr/local/sbin/mysqladmin
ln  -s   /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe   /usr/local/sbin/mysqld_safe

Finally, start the mysql service as the system user mysql, run:

mysqld_safe   --user=mysql   & (hit enter twice to get back to the prompt)

If you are really forgetful, like my amnesic chum Brad who keeps forgetting to type the ampersand, then the process will run in the foreground and won't let you do anything else - d'oh! Easiest thing is to log in again as another session (ALT F2) and kill the process and restart it properly.

To test the server Run:

mysqladmin   version

and

mysqladmin   status

With a bit of luck you'll see something resembling a working MySQL.

To make MySQL start from boot, add the following line to /etc/rc.local

vi   /etc/rc.local

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe   --user=mysql &

Note that the MySQL service is run as this special user mysql and NOT as the system user called root. Running the service with the root user causes possible security risks.