INSTALL(3)
NAME
INSTALL - How to install and configure DBD::mysql
SYNOPSIS
perl Makefile.PL [options]
make
make test
make install
DESCRIPTION
This document describes the installation and configuration of
DBD::mysql, the Perl DBI driver for the MySQL database. Before reading
on, make sure that you have the prerequisites available: Perl, MySQL
and DBI. For details see the separate section. "PREREQUISITES".
Depending on your version of Perl, it might be possible to use a binary
distribution of DBD::mysql. If possible, this is recommended. Otherwise
you need to install from the sources. If so, you will definitely need
a C compiler. Installation from binaries and sources are both described
in separate sections. "BINARY INSTALLATION". "SOURCE INSTALLATION".
Finally, if you encounter any problems, do not forget to read the sec-
tion on known problems. "KNOWN PROBLEMS". If that doesn't help, you
should look into the archive of the mailing list msql-mysql-mod-
ules@lists.mysql.com. See http://www.mysql.com for archive locations.
And if that still doesn't help, please post a question on this mailing
list.
PREREQUISITES
Perl
Preferrably a version of Perl, that comes preconfigured with your
system. For example, all Linux and FreeBSD distributions come with
Perl. For Windows, ActivePerl is recommended, see
http://www.activestate.com for details.
MySQL
You need not install the actual MySQL database server, the client
files and the devlopment files are sufficient. For example, the Red
Hat Linux distribution comes with RPM files mysql-client and mysql-
devel. These are sufficient, if the MySQL server is located on a
foreign machine. You may also create client files by compiling from
the MySQL source distribution and using
configure --without-server
If you are using Windows and need to compile from sources (which is
only the case if you are not using ActivePerl), then you must
ensure that the header and library files are installed. This may
require choosing a "Custom installation" and selecting the appro-
priate option when running the MySQL setup program.
DBI DBD::mysql is a DBI driver, hence you need DBI. It is available
from the same source where you got the DBD::mysql distribution
from.
C compiler
A C compiler is only required, if you install from source. In most
cases there are binary distributions of DBD::mysql available. How-
ever, if you need a C compiler, make sure, that it is the same C
compiler that was used for compiling Perl and MySQL! Otherwise you
will almost definitely encounter problems because of differences in
the underlying C runtime libraries.
In the worst case, this might mean to compile Perl and MySQL your-
self. But believe me, experience shows that a lot of problems are
fixed this way.
Gzip libraries
Late versions of MySQL come with support for compression. Thus it
may be required that you have install an RPM package like
libz-devel, libgz-devel or something similar.
BINARY INSTALLATION
Binary installation is possible in the most cases, depending on your
system. I give some examples:
Windows
ActivePerl offers a PPM archive of DBD::mysql. All you need to do is
typing
ppm
install DBI
install DBD-mysql
This will fetch the modules via HTTP and install them. If you need to
use a WWW proxy server, the environment variable HTTP_proxy must be
set:
set HTTP_proxy=http://my.proxy.server:8000/
ppm
install DBI
install DBD-mysql
Of course you need to replace the host name "my.proxy.server" and the
port number 8000 with your local values.
If the above procedure doesn't work, please upgrade to the latest ver-
sion of ActivePerl. Versions before build 623 are known to have prob-
lems.
PPM 3 is said to miss DBD::mysql in the repository. Thus use of PPM 3
is discouraged, in favour of PPM 2. If you need to use PPM 3, try
ppm
rep add PPM2 http://ppm.activestate.com/PPMPackages/5.6plus/
rep 2
install DBI
install DBD-mysql
Red Hat Linux
As of version 7.1, Red Hat Linux comes with MySQL and DBD::mysql. You
need to ensure that the following RPM's are installed:
mysql
perl-DBI
perl-DBD-MySQL
For installation from source the following RPM's are required
mysql-devel
libz-devel
Optional are
mysql-server
Other systems
In the case of Linux or FreeBSD distributions it is very likely that
all you need comes with your distribution, as in the case of Red Hat
Linux. I just cannot give you names, as I am not using these systems.
Please let me know if you find the files in your SuSE Linux, Debian
Linux or FreeBSD distribution so that I can extend the above list.
SOURCE INSTALLATION
So you need to install from sources. If you are lucky, the Perl module
"CPAN" will do all for you, thanks to the excellent work of Andreas
Koenig. Otherwise you will need to do a manual installation. Some of
you, in particular system administrators of multiple sites, will choose
automatic installation. All of these installation types have an own
section. "CPAN installation". "Manual installation". "Configuration".
CPAN installation
Installation of DBD::mysql can be incredibly easy:
cpan
install DBD::mysql
If you are using the CPAN module for the first time, just answer the
questions by accepting the defaults which are fine in most cases. If
you are using an older version of Perl, you might instead need a
perl -MCPAN -e shell
install DBD::mysql
If you cannot get the CPAN module working, you might try manual instal-
lation. If installation with CPAN fails because the your local settings
have been guessed wrong, you might try to create a script called
"mysql_config". This is described in more details later. "Configura-
tion".
Manual installation
For a manual installation you need to fetch the DBD::mysql source dis-
tribution. The latest version is always available from
http://www.cpan.org/modules/by-module/DBD/
The name is typically something like
DBD-mysql-1.2216.tar.gz
The archive needs to be extracted. On Windows you may use a tool like
WinZip, on Unix you type
gzip -cd DBD-mysql-1.2216.tar.gz | tar xf -
This will create a subdirectory DBD-mysql-1.2216. Enter this subdirec-
tory and type
perl Makefile.PL
make
make test
(On Windows you may need to replace "make" with "nmake" or "dmake".) If
the tests seem to look fine, you may continue with
make install
If the tests fail, you might need to configure some settings. For
example you might choose a different database, the C compiler or the
linker might need some flags. "Configuration". "C Compiler flags".
"Linker flags".
For Windows/CygWin there is a special section below. "CygWin" in Win-
dows.
Configuration
The install script "Makefile.PL" can be configured via a lot of
switches. All switches can be used on the command line. For example,
the test database:
perl Makefile.PL --testdb=<db>
If you do not like configuring these switches on the command line, you
may alternatively create a script called "mysql_config". This is
described later on.
Available switches are:
testdb
Name of the test database, defaults to test.
testuser
Name of the test user, defaults to empty. If the name is empty,
then the currently logged in users name will be used.
testpassword
Password of the test user, defaults to empty.
testhost
Host name or IP number of the test database; defaults to localhost.
testport
Port number of the test database
cflags
This is a list of flags that you want to give to the C compiler.
The most important flag is the location of the MySQL header files.
For example, on Red Hat Linux the header files are in
/usr/include/mysql and you might try
-I/usr/include/mysql
On Windows the header files may be in C:\mysql\include and you
might try
-IC:\mysql\include
The default flags are determined by running
mysql_config --cflags
More details on the C compiler flags can be found in the following
section. "C Compiler flags".
libs
This is a list of flags that you want to give to the linker or
loader. The most important flags are the locations and names of
additional libraries. For example, on Red Hat Linux your MySQL
client libraries are in /usr/lib/mysql and you might try
-L/usr/lib/mysql -lmysqlclient -lz
On Windows the libraries may be in C:\mysql\lib and
-LC:\mysql\lib -lmysqlclient
might be a good choice. The default flags are determined by running
mysql_config --libs
More details on the linker flags can be found in a separate sec-
tion. "Linker flags".
If a switch is not present on the command line, then the script
"mysql_config" will be executed. This script comes as part of the MySQL
distribution. For example, to determine the C compiler flags, we are
executing
mysql_config --cflags
mysql_config --libs
If you want to configure your own settings for database name, database
user and so on, then you have to create a script with the same name,
that replies
C Compiler flags
It is typically not so difficult to determine the appropriate flags for
the C compiler. The linker flags, which you find in the next section,
are another story.
The determination of the C compiler flags is usually left to a configu-
ration script called mysql_config, which can be invoked with
mysql_config --cflags
When doing so, it will emit a line with suggested C compiler flags, for
example like this:
-L/usr/include/mysql
The C compiler must find some header files. Header files have the
extension ".h". MySQL header files are, for example, mysql.h and
mysql_version.h. In most cases the header files are not installed by
default. For example, on Windows it is an installation option of the
MySQL setup program (Custom installation), whether the header files are
installed or not. On Red Hat Linux, you need to install an RPM archive
mysql-devel or MySQL-devel.
If you know the location of the header files, then you will need to add
an option
-L<header directory>
to the C compiler flags, for example "-L/usr/include/mysql".
Linker flags
Appropriate linker flags are the most common source of problems while
installing DBD::mysql. I will only give a rough overview, you'll find
more details in the troubleshooting section. "KNOWN PROBLEMS"
The determination of the C compiler flags is usually left to a configu-
ration script called mysql_config, which can be invoked with
mysql_config --libs
When doing so, it will emit a line with suggested C compiler flags, for
example like this:
-L'/usr/lib/mysql' -lmysqlclient -lnsl -lm -lz -lcrypt
The following items typically need to be configured for the linker:
The mysqlclient library
The MySQL client library comes as part of the MySQL distribution.
Depending on your system it may be a file called
F<libmysqlclient.a> statically linked library, Unix
F<libmysqlclient.so> dynamically linked library, Unix
F<mysqlclient.lib> statically linked library, Windows
F<mysqlclient.dll> dynamically linked library, Windows
or something similar.
As in the case of the header files, the client library is typically
not installed by default. On Windows you will need to select them
while running the MySQL setup program (Custom installation). On Red
Hat Linux an RPM archive mysql-devel or MySQL-devel must be
installed.
The linker needs to know the location and name of the mysqlclient
library. This can be done by adding the flags
-L<lib directory> -lmysqlclient
or by adding the complete path name. Examples:
-L/usr/lib/mysql -lmysqlclient
-LC:\mysql\lib -lmysqlclient
If you would like to use the static libraries (and there are excel-
lent reasons to do so), you need to create a separate directory,
copy the static libraries to that place and use the -L switch above
to point to your new directory. For example:
mkdir /tmp/mysql-static
cp /usr/lib/mysql/*.a /tmp/mysql-static
perl Makefile.PL --libs="-L/tmp/mysql-static -lmysqlclient"
make
make test
make install
rm -rf /tmp/mysql-static
The gzip library
The MySQL client can use compression when talking to the MySQL
server, a nice feature when sending or receiving large texts over a
slow network.
On Unix you typically find the appropriate file name by running
ldconfig -p | grep libz
ldconfig -p | grep libgz
Once you know the name (libz.a or libgz.a is best), just add it to
the list of linker flags. If this seems to be causing problem you
may also try to link without gzip libraries.
SPECIAL SYSTEMS
Below you find information on particular systems:
Windows/CygWin
If you are a user of Cygwin (the Redhat distribution) you already know,
it contains a nicely running perl 5.6.1, installation of additional
modules usually works as a charme via the standard procedure of
perl makefile.PL
make
make test
make install
The Windows binary distribution of MySQL runs smoothly under Cygwin.
You can start/stop the server and use all Windows clients without prob-
lem. But to install DBD::mysql you have to take a little special
action.
Don't attempt to build DBD::mysql against either the MySQL Windows or
Linux/Unix BINARY distributions: neither will work!
You MUST compile the MySQL clients yourself under Cygwin, to get a
'libmysqlclient.a' compiled under Cygwin. Really! You'll only need that
library and the header files, you don't need any other client parts.
Continue to use the Windows binaries. And don't attempt (currently) to
build the MySQL Server part, it is unneccessary, as MySQL AB does an
excellent job to deliver optimized binaries for the mainstream operat-
ing systems, and it is told, that the server compiled under Cygwin is
unstable.
Install MySQL (if you havn't already)
- download the MySQL Windows Binaries from http://www.mysql.com/down-
loads/index.html
- unzip mysql-<version>-win.zip into some temporary location
- start the setup.exe there and follow the instructions
- start the server
- alternatively download, install and start the server on a remote
server, on what supported OS ever
Build MySQL clients under Cygwin:
- download the MySQL LINUX source from http://www.mysql.com/down-
loads/index.html
- unpack mysql-<version>.tar.gz into some tmp location
- cd into the unpacked dir mysql-<version>
./configure --prefix=/usr/local/mysql --without-server
This prepares the Makefile with the installed Cygwin features. It
takes some time, but should finish without error. The 'prefix', as
given, installs the whole Cygwin/MySQL thingy into a location not
normally in your PATH, so that you continue to use already
installed Windows binaries. The --without-server parameter tells
configure to only build the clients.
-
make
This builds all MySQL client parts ... be patient. It should finish
finally without any error.
-
make install
This installs the compiled client files under /usr/local/mysql/.
Remember, you don't need anything except the library under
/usr/local/mysql/lib and the headers under
/usr/local/mysql/include!
Essentially you are now done with this part. If you want, you may
try your compiled binaries shortly; for that, do:
-
cd /usr/local/mysql/bin
./mysql -h 127.0.0.1
The host (-h) parameter 127.0.0.1 targets the local host, but
forces the mysql client to use a TCP/IP connection. The default
would be a pipe/socket connection (even if you say '-h localhost')
and this doesn't work between Cygwin and Windows (as far as I
know).
If you have your MySQL server running on some other box, then
please substitute '127.0.0.1' with the name or IP-number of that
box.
Please note, in my environment the 'mysql' client did not accept a sim-
ple RETURN, I had to use CTRL-RETURN to send commands ... strange, but
I didn't attempt to fix that, as we are only interested in the built
lib and headers.
At the 'mysql>' prompt do a quick check:
mysql> use mysql
mysql> show tables;
mysql> select * from db;
mysql> exit
You are now ready to build DBD::mysql!
Build DBD::mysql:
- download DBD-mysql-<version>.tar.gz from CPAN
- unpack DBD-mysql-<version>.tar.gz
- cd into unpacked dir DBD-mysql-<version> you probably did that
already, if you are reading this!
-
cp /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql_config .
This copies the executable script mentioned in the DBD::mysql docs
from your just built Cywin/MySQL client directory; it knows about
your Cygwin installation, especially about the right libraries to
link with.
-
perl Makefile.PL --testhost=127.0.0.1
The --testhost=127.0.0.1 parameter again forces a TCP/IP connection
to the MySQL server on the local host instead of a pipe/socket con-
nection for the 'make test' phase.
-
make
This should run without error
-
make test
with DBD-mysql-2.1022 or earlier you will see several errors in
dbdadmin.t, mysql.t and mysql2.t; with later versions you should
not get errors (except possibly one, indicating, that some tables
could not be dropped. I'm hunting for a solution to that problem,
but have none yet).
-
make install
This installs DBD::mysql into the Perl hierarchy.
Notes:
This was tested with MySQL version 3.23.54a and DBD::mysql version
2.1022. I patched the above mentioned test scripts and sent the patches
to the author of DBD::mysql Jochen Wiedman.
Georg Rehfeld 15. Jan. 2003
KNOWN PROBLEMS
1.) Some Linux distributions don't come with a gzip library by default.
Running "make" terminates with an error message like
LD_RUN_PATH="/usr/lib/mysql:/lib:/usr/lib" gcc
-o blib/arch/auto/DBD/mysql/mysql.so -shared
-L/usr/local/lib dbdimp.o mysql.o -L/usr/lib/mysql
-lmysqlclient -lm -L/usr/lib/gcc-lib/i386-redhat-linux/2.96
-lgcc -lz
/usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lz
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make: *** [blib/arch/auto/DBD/mysql/mysql.so] Error 1
If this is the case for you, install an RPM archive like
libz-devel, libgz-devel, zlib-devel or gzlib-devel or something
similar.
2.) If Perl was compiled with gcc or egcs, but MySQL was compiled with
another compiler or on another system, an error message like this
is very likely when running "Make test":
t/00base............install_driver(mysql) failed: Can't load
'../blib/arch/auto/DBD/mysql/mysql.so' for module DBD::mysql:
../blib/arch/auto/DBD/mysql/mysql.so: undefined symbol: _umoddi3
at /usr/local/perl-5.005/lib/5.005/i586-linux-thread/DynaLoader.pm
line 168.
This means, that your linker doesn't include libgcc.a. You have the
following options:
The solution is telling the linker to use libgcc. Run
gcc --print-libgcc-file
to determine the exact location of libgcc.a or for older versions
of gcc
gcc -v
to determine the directory. If you know the directory, add a
-L<directory> -lgcc
to the list of C compiler flags. "Configuration". "Linker flags".
3.) There are known problems with shared versions of libmysqlclient, at
least on some Linux boxes. If you receive an error message similar
to
install_driver(mysql) failed: Can't load
'/usr/lib/perl5/site_perl/i586-linux/auto/DBD/mysql/mysql.so'
for module DBD::mysql: File not found at
/usr/lib/perl5/i586-linux/5.00404/DynaLoader.pm line 166
then this error message can be misleading: It's not mysql.so that
fails being loaded, but libmysqlclient.so! The usual problem is
that this file is located in a directory like
/usr/lib/mysql
where the linker doesn't look for it.
The best workaround is using a statically linked mysqlclient
library, for example
/usr/lib/mysql/libmysqlclient.a
The use of a statically linked library is described in the previous
section on linker flags. "Configuration". "Linker flags".
4.) Red Hat 8 & 9 set the Default locale to UTF which causes problems
with MakeMaker. To build DBD::mysql on these systems, do a 'unset
LANG' before runing 'perl Makefile.PL'
SUPPORT
Finally, if everything else fails, you are not alone. First of all, for
an immediate answer, you should look into the archives of the mailing
list msql-mysql-modules@lists.mysql.com. See http://www.mysql.com for
archive locations.
If you don't find an appropriate posting and reply in the mailing list,
please post a question. Typically a reply will be seen within one or
two days.
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