CSG Helpdesk

How to use MySQL

The CS department offers a MySQL database account to anyone who has a computer science account for use with class related projects or their own personal projects. The database may be accessed via a command line application (mysql) or through student created applications. The department does not automatically create a database account for everyone; instead each student must request a database account. (If you are registered for a database course, your account should be created for you automatically, however.) This how-to describes how to request a database account and how to connect to the database via a command line application. This how-to does not describe how to connect your application to the database; for information on how to do this consult the documentation for your platform (php, java, asp, .net, etc.) or your TA / Instructor.

How to request a database account

Using your preferred web browser to go to http://csnet.cs.tamu.edu/
NOTE: You must either be on campus or using VPN to access this site.
Log in by entering your CS username and web password.
If you have forgotten your password or need assistance logging in please visit the helpdesk in room 210.
Click on "Helpdesk" then "Submit request."
Enter "Database Account Request" as the request title.
Enter "I am requesting a MySQL database account." as the request description.
Enter your username as the request owner.
Choose "Account related" as the request type.
Click submit.

After submitting the request it will take a day or two for it to be processed. Once it is processed your initial database password will be set to your student ID number.

Connecting to MySQL

There are several ways to connect to the MySQL database. You may connect via a command line application which allows you to directly enter SQL queries or have your application connect to the database.

Using an SSH client such as PuTTY, login to unix.cs.tamu.edu (or any other CS unix server).
At the command prompt run the mysql command as follows:

> mysql -h database.cs.tamu.edu -u yourusername -p

Enter your database password at the prompt.


            Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g. 

             Your MySQL connection id is 3 to server version: 4.1.9-nt

            
  
             Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer. 

            

            mysql>

From this prompt you may enter SQL queries to access the database. To quit mysql use the 'quit' command.

Changing your database password

Once you get your database account activated, one of the first things you will want to do is change the initial password to something more secure. To change your password, first login as described above, and then enter the following command:

SET PASSWORD = OLD_PASSWORD('yournewpassword');

An example of this would be "SET PASSWORD = OLD_PASSWORD('1wiwgp4u');"

Note that the password you are typing in the parenthesis and single quotes is your new password; the "OLD_PASSWORD" just means that it is being stored in the old password format. If you forget your password or have any problem changing it, visit the helpdesk in room 210 for assistance.

Creating databases

You can create multiple databases, but the names of your databases must be either:

your_username or
your_username-*

For example, if your username where student, and you already had a database named student, you would type the following commands to:

NOTE: You must use the back-tick character before and after the database name! ( ex: `student-newdb` )
tilde backtick key

create a new database,

mysql> create database `student-db1` Query OK, 1 row affected (0.03 sec)
switch to the new database,

mysql> use student-db1; Database changed
return to the main database, and

mysql> use student; Database changed
delete the new database.

mysql> drop database 'student-db1'; Query OK, 1 row affected (0.14 sec)