This is a beginner’s guide for installing MySQL (mysql-5.0.51b-osx10.5-x86.dmg) to a OS X 10.5.3

I’ve run into so many problems, frustration and problem trying to install MySQL to my Leopard because the documentations for installing MySQL have changed so much throughout different versions of MySQL and Mac OSX. I basically had to prowl through all sort of sources on downloading, installing and configuring MySQL on my OS X 10.5.3. After going through the nightmares, I thought I should document all my steps so people after me are better off than I am.

Note: If someone is expert in this matter, please help out this post by providing some of your experience and tutorials on improving this post, thanks!

What you need

1). MySQL

The version of MySQL that will be covered in this entry is: mysql-5.0.51b-osx10.5-x86.dmg.

You can download it at http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/ for free. Here’s the direct link: http://dev.mysql.com/get/Downloads/MySQL-5.0/mysql-5.0.51b-osx10.5-x86.dmg/from/http://mysql.he.net/

2). Install MySQL

The dmg file will unbox when doubled-clicked with the following files.

Here’s when the mess starts. If you look into the ReadMe.txt file, you’ll be greeted with OS X Server Install and OS X Install, and then there are branches of “If…” scenarios that could only benefit the experienced MySQL users but not beginners. The next step now is double-click on the mysql-5.0.51b-osx10.5-x86.pkg file and follow the steps to installing it. MySQL now should be installed in the /user/local.

Tips: Instead of doing this to run the daemon,

Do this, run the file MySQL.prefPane file in the dmg.

Install the pane and you’ll have a nice GUI for starting and stopping mySQL without having to go through the terminal.

3). Administration Softwares

The softwares that you can use to manage your MySQL are NaviCat7(Shareware version - 30 Days Trial), which you can find on the Apple>Download, or a free one, CocoaMySQL.

1. [Updated 6-13-08]MySQLAdministration
2. mysql-5.0.51b-osx10.5-x86
3. CocoaMySQL-v0.5.dmg

[Updated]MySQLAdministration:

Here’s a free MySQL Admin software which you can get on the MySQL website. Here’s the link. Although I’ve posted two other commercial mysql management software, this is perhaps the best for beginners.

NaviCat:

By default, MySQL is password free. So you can enter the database without the username or password like this. But you need to name your ‘Connection Name’.

CocoaMySQL:

Similar to NaviCat, no username or password is needed to access MySQL. For the Host: enter ‘localhost’.

4). [Updated 6-13-08]Setting/changing your MySQL Password

I ran a mile to fetch the steps to accurately setting and changing your MySQL password for root.

By default, the root account created without a password free. You can simply use the GUI tool, MySQLAdmin, to set a password for root. Just log on to MySQL with username = ‘root’ and password = ””. Then go into “Accounts”, select ‘root’. Set your password and save changes. You’re done!