Q. How do I install and run MySQL version 5 database Server under OpenBSD UNIX operating system?

A. OpenBSD has pkg_add command. It is used to install packages created with the pkg_create command. Selected packages containing pre-compiled applications from the /usr/ports tree can be found on the OpenBSD FTP site or on the official OpenBSD CD. pkg_add is the easiest way to install new packages, to replace existing packages with other flavors (option -r) or to update packages to newer versions option -u).

Install MySQL Database Server on OpenBSD

First setup installation mirror i.e. PKG_PATH using export command:
$ export PKG_PATH=ftp://mirror.planetunix.net/pub/OpenBSD/4.1/packages/`machine -a`/
Next install MySQL server, using pkg_add command, enter:
$ sudo pkg_add -i -v mysql-server
OR
# pkg_add -i -v mysql-server
Output:

parsing mysql-server-5.0.33
Dependencies for mysql-server-5.0.33 resolve to: p5-DBD-mysql-3.0008, mysql-client-5.0.33 (todo: mysql-client-5.0.33,p5-DBD-mysql-3.0008)
mysql-server-5.0.33:parsing mysql-client-5.0.33
mysql-server-5.0.33:mysql-client-5.0.33: complete                                                                                                                             
mysql-server-5.0.33:parsing p5-DBD-mysql-3.0008
Dependencies for p5-DBD-mysql-3.0008 resolve to: mysql-client-5.0.33, p5-DBI-1.53 (todo: p5-DBI-1.53)
mysql-server-5.0.33:parsing p5-DBI-1.53
Dependencies for p5-DBI-1.53 resolve to: p5-PlRPC-0.2018p0 (todo: p5-PlRPC-0.2018p0)
mysql-server-5.0.33:parsing p5-PlRPC-0.2018p0
Dependencies for p5-PlRPC-0.2018p0 resolve to: p5-Net-Daemon-0.39 (todo: p5-Net-Daemon-0.39)
mysql-server-5.0.33:parsing p5-Net-Daemon-0.39
mysql-server-5.0.33:p5-Net-Daemon-0.39: complete                                                                                                                              
mysql-server-5.0.33:p5-PlRPC-0.2018p0: complete                                                                                                                               
mysql-server-5.0.33:p5-DBI-1.53: complete                                                                                                                                     
mysql-server-5.0.33:p5-DBD-mysql-3.0008: complete                                                                                                                             
adding group _mysql
adding user _mysql
installed /etc/my.cnf from /usr/local/share/mysql/my-medium.cnf****************************************************************************************************     | 97%
mysql-server-5.0.33: complete                                                                                                                                                 
--- mysql-server-5.0.33 -------------------
The mysql-server package doesn't initialize a default database.
Please run /usr/local/bin/mysql_install_db to create one.

Install default MySQL database

By default MySQL database is not initialized, enter the following command to create a default database:
# /usr/local/bin/mysql_install_db
Output:

Installing all prepared tables
Fill help tables
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET A PASSWORD FOR THE MySQL root USER !
To do so, start the server, then issue the following commands:
/usr/local/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'new-password'
/usr/local/bin/mysqladmin -u root -h openbsd.nixcraft.in password 'new-password'
See the manual for more instructions.

Start MySQL server

Now you have MySQL server installed. Start the server daemon, enter:
# /usr/local/bin/mysqld_safe &
Output:

[1] 7750
Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/mysql

Connect to MySQL server

Run mysql command to test if everything is working fine, enter:
# mysql
Output:

Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 1
Server version: 5.0.33-log OpenBSD port: mysql-server-5.0.33

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer.
mysql> quit
Bye

Set root password

You must set a password for the MySQL root user, enter:
# /usr/local/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'YOUR-Secret-Password'
To access the MySQL server with password, enter:
$ mysql -u root -p

Create MySQL startup and stop script

Finally, you need a script to start and stop MySQL Server. In order to start MySQL server at boot time, enter following command in /etc/rc.conf.local file:
# vi /etc/rc.conf.local
Append following line:
mysql=YES
Save and close the file. Now you need to edit /etc/rc.local file. It is use to specify site-specific startup actions, daemons, and other things which can be done AFTER your system goes into securemode:
# vi /etc/rc.local
Find out line which read as follows:
# Add your local startup actions here.
Append following code:

# MySQL startup 
if [ X"${mysql}" == X"YES" -a -x /usr/local/bin/mysqld_safe ]; then
   echo -n " mysqld " 
   /usr/local/bin/mysqld_safe --user=_mysql &
fi

Save and close the file.

How do I stop MySQL server under OpenBSD?

Use mysqladmin command:
# mysqladmin -u root -p shutdown