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The most popular distribution of MySQL is the open source version from MySQL AB. However, there are also commercial versions of MySQL, as well as distributions of MySQL bundled with application server software. No matter which option you choose, a solution is available for you on all platforms—any Unix-like operating system, as well as on Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/2003. This chapter assumes you're using the MySQL installation files from the MySQL website.
If you are using MySQL as part of a web-hosting package through an Internet service provider, you don't have to worry about downloading and installing the application in this chapter. Instead, you just need to work with your ISP to get your username and password. In almost all cases, your ISP will be running the MySQL distribution from MySQL AB. There's no harm in setting up MySQL on a development machine, if you have one available (your own workstation fits that bill), just to better understand the process. To that end, if you have a Linux workstation or server, MySQL was likely included on your OS distribution CDs as an installation option, and perhaps you even installed it already. In that case, you should check the MySQL website to compare the version numbers, and download a newer version if one is available.
The installation instructions in this chapter are based on the MySQL version 4.0.x, distributed by MySQL AB.
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If you are using MySQL at your ISP and they are still using a 3.23.x version, don't worry—you will be able to use all of the database-related examples in this book. |
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