Easy Guide to Install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 for Beginners
Hey everyone,
If you’re setting up a web server, developing a database-driven application, or simply learning Linux-based server management, knowing how to Install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 is a must-have skill. MySQL is one of the most popular open-source relational database management systems used globally, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is one of the most stable Linux distributions available today.
In this post, I’ll share a detailed, beginner-friendly tutorial on how to install and configure MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04. This guide is based on the official documentation from Vultr
Why Use MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04?
MySQL is powerful, secure, and widely supported across frameworks and platforms. Ubuntu 22.04, aka Jammy Jellyfish, is a long-term support release, making it a great base OS for development or production environments.
Combining these two offers:
Stable and secure database performance
Seamless integration with PHP, Python, Node.js, etc.
Support for popular CMS platforms like WordPress and Joomla
A scalable solution for websites, applications, and enterprise-level systems
What You Need Before You Start
To follow this tutorial, ensure you have:
A system running Ubuntu 22.04
A user account with sudo privileges
Access to a terminal (or SSH for remote installations)
Internet connection to download packages
Steps to Install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04
Step 1: Update Your System
Before installing anything, update your package index:
sudo apt update
Step 2: Install MySQL Server
Install the MySQL server package using:
sudo apt install mysql-server
This will install the latest MySQL version available in Ubuntu's default repositories.
Step 3: Check MySQL Status
After installation, check if the MySQL service is running:
sudo systemctl status mysql
It should show active (running) status. If it isn’t running, you can start it using:
sudo systemctl start mysql
Secure Your MySQL Server
Run the included security script to tighten your MySQL configuration:
sudo mysql_secure_installation
You’ll be prompted to:
Set a root password
Remove anonymous users
Disallow root login remotely
Remove the test database
Reload privilege tables
We recommend answering “Yes” to all prompts unless you have specific needs.
Log Into MySQL
Access the MySQL command-line tool:
sudo mysql
Once inside, you can begin creating databases and users.
Create a Database and User
Here’s how to create a database and a user with full privileges:
CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;
CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'mypassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mydatabase.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;
Enable Remote Access (Optional)
If you want to connect to MySQL from another machine:
Edit the config file: sudo nano /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf
Find bind-address = 127.0.0.1 and change it to: bind-address = 0.0.0.0
Save the file and restart MySQL: sudo systemctl restart mysql
Allow MySQL port through the firewall: sudo ufw allow 3306
Uninstall MySQL (Optional)
If you need to remove MySQL for any reason:
sudo apt remove --purge mysql-server mysql-client mysql-common
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt autoclean
Conclusion
That’s it! You now know how to Install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 safely and securely. Whether you're building your first web app or setting up a production server, this setup provides a solid and scalable database solution.