mysql-ubuntu/README.md

MySQL for Ubuntu 24.04 Server

Install MySQL on Ubuntu 24.04 server.

This is not a guide and not a toy.
This script is built for consistent, repeatable deployments.

Why this installer exists

Different distros ship different defaults, often requiring manual cleanup. This installer standardizes configuration.

What this installer does

✔ Enforces mysql_native_password
✔ No socket login — predictable auth
✔ Removes anonymous users + test DB
✔ Creates /root/.my.cnf for CLI access
✔ Safe to re-run without wiping data

What this installer does NOT do

It won’t stop you from running the script without reading the documentation like there’s no tomorrow.
Skip the README, and whatever happens next is your headache, not a bug report.

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Requirements

You need:

✔ Ubuntu 24.04 Server (or equivalent)
✔ Root access (direct or via sudo)
✔ No existing MySQL service already running

If MySQL is already running, the script will exit to avoid damaging an existing installation.

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1. Prepare the system

sudo apt update -y

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2. Download the installer

git clone https://git.x-files.dk/database/mysql-ubuntu.git

cd mysql-ubuntu

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3. Install MySQL

sudo ./mysqlinstall -p <rootpassword>

Example:

sudo ./mysqlinstall -p StrongRootPass1986

The -p flag is required. If omitted, the script exits with an error.

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Authentication Mode (Default)

This installer configures MySQL to use password-based authentication only for the root user.

Mode	Status	Notes
mysql_native_password	✔ Enabled	Root must use a password
auth_socket	✘ Disabled	No implicit root login via socket

This makes MySQL easier to use with:

• GUI tools (DBeaver, HeidiSQL, etc.)
• Remote automation (Ansible, backup scripts)
• Other services that expect TCP + password auth

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Security Hardening (Automatic)

The script applies hardening equivalent to mysql_secure_installation:

Task	Status
Remove anonymous users	✔
Disallow remote root login	✔
Drop test database	✔
Remove test_% databases	✔
Flush privileges	✔

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Post‑Install Login

Because /root/.my.cnf is created, you can log in as root with:

mysql

Or explicitly:

mysql -u root -p

Credentials file:

/root/.my.cnf

File mode is set to 400 (root read‑only).

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Switching Authentication Modes

1. Switch back to socket authentication (optional)

If you prefer the default Ubuntu‑style socket auth for root (no password when local), run:

sudo mysql
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH auth_socket;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

After this:

mysql          # works without password (as root on the server)
mysql -p       # will fail unless you set a password again

Because this installer created /root/.my.cnf, you should remove it when switching back to socket auth to avoid confusing clients and tools:

rm -f /root/.my.cnf

Otherwise, tools that rely on /root/.my.cnf may try password auth while MySQL expects socket auth, leading to login errors.

2. Switch from socket auth back to password auth

If you later decide to restore password‑based login again:

sudo mysql
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'YourNewPasswordHere';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Then recreate /root/.my.cnf if desired:

cat > /root/.my.cnf <<EOF
[client]
user=root
password=YourNewPasswordHere
EOF

chmod 400 /root/.my.cnf

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Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Fix
Script exits: “MySQL is already running”	Existing MySQL install detected	Stop/remove old instance or migrate manually
Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'	Wrong root password used	Restart MySQL in safe mode and reset password
Tools fail after switching to socket auth	/root/.my.cnf still present	Remove /root/.my.cnf or switch back to password auth
Cannot connect from remote host as root	Remote root login disabled	Create a dedicated admin user for remote access

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More Information

More guides and documentation can be found on wiki.x-files.dk

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License

Licensed under the MIT License.