How to Install MySQL Database on a Macintosh

If you want your web site to jump from home page to professional resource, one of the best ways is to add database capabilities. MySQL is a popular, free database server with dozens of books to teach you the ropes. In the past you had to install MySQL with the Macintosh Unix command line interface but more recent versions can be up and running in minutes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• MySQL package format installer

1. Download the MySQL package installation. MySQL is in varying stages of development, including alpha and beta releases, so make sure you download the most stable version for your Mac. Make sure to select the download for your platform (Intel or PowerPC) and version of OS X.

2. Double click on the DMG file. A disk image will mount on your desktop. If you download a TAR compressed file (which contains files and folders), you downloaded the wrong installer.

3. Run the both the MySQL installer and the MtSQLStartupitem PKG files. You may have to enter your administrative password. Select your internal drive as the destination disk.

4. Drag the file MySQL.prefPane to your user library folder. It should be placed in the subfolder "Preference Panes." Open your System Preferences to confirm it's there.

5. Restart your computer. MySQL won't run until your system reboots.

6. Open the MySQL preferences by double clicking on the MySQL icon. If the server isn't running, you will see a message saying the server instance is stopped. Click "Start MySQL Server" to launch the server.

7. Connect to the server from your database management utility. This could be a web site, a web development program with database management capabilities or a freeware utility.

Tips & Warnings

• The installer will indicate which drives can run MySQL and which will give you problems. Select the drive with the green arrow.
• You may see an error message during the installation process indicating that you can't install the software on the destination disk. Simply click the back button and reselect the destination disk.
• Make sure to download the package format installer not the TAR packages. The TAR packages require installation from the UNIX command line.
• Unless you really understand MySQL run the default install. It will do everything you need to get MySQL up and running.

Resources

• MySQL downloads page
• Cocoa MySQL graphic user interface