14.2 Installing and Enabling MySQL

Before you configure MySQL with Novell Cluster Services, MySQL must be installed and configured properly on all servers in the cluster where you intend to run it. You can use the YaST Software Management tool to install the MySQL and the MySQL Client packages. Other MySQL packages are available that allow you to use MySQL with Perl, PHP, Postfix, or Python, but this guide does not cover their installation or use.

Package	Description
mysql	Provides the MySQL software and database.
mysql-client	Provides the MySQL client command line program that acts as a text-based front end for the MySQL Server. It is used for issuing queries and viewing the results interactively from a terminal window
msql-Max	Provides the MySQL software, database, and the following features for users that require transaction support: Berkeley database (BDB) tables InnoDB tables These features provide transaction-safe tables to which locks are applied while a series of SQL queries is made. The series of queries is referred to as a transaction.
perl-DBD-mysql	Provides a MySQL database driver (DBD) to support a database-independent interface (DBI) for the Perl programming language.
php5-mysql	Provides a PHP plug-in that allows an Apache HTTP server to access a MySQL database.
postfix-mysql	Provides a Postfix plug-in that allows a Postfix mail system to access a MySQL database.
python-mysql	Provides a Python plug-in that allows you to execute SQL queries on a MySQL database through your Python application.

Use the following procedure to install the mysql and mysql-client packages, and enable MySQL on each node in the cluster:

Log in to the server as the Linux root user, then open YaST.
Ensure that the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SPx installation CD is mounted on the server.
In YaST, select Software > Software Management, then click the Search tab.
To find the components, type mysql in the Search field, then click Search.
In the Package list, select mysql and mysql-client.
Click Accept, then click Continue for each component to confirm that you want to install it.

YaST does the following:
- Installs the MySQL Server and MySQL Client software.
  
  The software is not enabled by default, and the MySQL daemon is not running at this time. No run levels are set.
- Creates the MySQL root user (a user internal to the MySQL system) as a superuser that has access rights to perform any function in MySQL. Initially, this user has no password assigned.
- Creates a default path /var/lib/mysql for storing databases that you create later. Initially, this directory is empty. It is populated later when you enable the MySQL service.
- Creates the mysql user and group on the server and makes them the owners of the default data directory /var/lib/mysql and its contents.
- Creates a default mount point /mnt/mysql for the database. This is where you will mount the LVM logical volume that you create for the database in Section 14.3, Creating an LVM Volume Group and Logical Volume.
- Creates the default MySQL configuration file (/etc/my.cnf).
In YaST, enable the MySQL service:
1. Select System > System Services (Runlevel).
2. Select Expert Mode.
3. In the Service list, select the mysql daemon.
4. Click Set/Reset > Enable the Service.
  
  Under Service will be started in the following runlevels, notice that the 2, 3, and 5 check boxes are selected by default. You don’t want the service to start on system boot because it starts when the cluster resource is brought online on a cluster node.
5. In the lower right corner, click OK.
6. When you are prompted to confirm the changes, click Yes to save them.
7. Exit YaST.
Stop the MySQL daemon from running. In a terminal console, enter the following as the Linux root user:
```
/etc/init.d/mysql stop
```
Alternatively, you can use the rcmysql stop command.
Repeat Step 1 through Step 8 on each node in the cluster to install and enable MySQL.
After you have installed and enabled MySQL on all servers in the cluster, continue with Section 14.3, Creating an LVM Volume Group and Logical Volume.