A basic database overview.

[BPetro]

I'm new to mySql, so this is probably dumb. But I don't see information on this anywhere. So much detail on teaching SQL syntax and so forth, but I don't see this sort of overview anywhere.

I installed Courier (email) and it was supposed (I think) to setup auth via mySql. SO! What commands or utilities are there to see what is existing in mySQL? IE: are there multiple databases? Were tables created? Just some basic stuff like that. If there are system tables to select from to see databases and tables and columns etc - perhaps you could just point me to one or two root tables to get me started. If there are nice utilities that do this for you - even better if you could point me to those utilities.

THANKS!

 

[sleipnir214]

You haven't specified on what platform MySQL is running, nor from which platform you will be managing the database, so I can only give you general advice.

When you installed MySQL, it installed an application &quot;mysql&quot; (&quot;mysql.exe&quot; on Win32). That is the default, command-line management interface. It's clunky, but it works well. Commands like &quot;show databases;&quot;, &quot;use <databasename>;&quot;, &quot;show tables;&quot;, &quot;describe <tablename>;&quot; are ones to begin with. Keep in mind that there are many good books out there on MySQL (I recommend the New Riders book, MySQL, and nearly all have tutorials on MySQL-specific SQL queries.

You're going to have to take a look at your Courier documentation. Unless some part of the installation process required you to provide MySQL login credentials, the database and tables were probably not created. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

 

[BPetro]

Thanks! That's a good starting point. My apologies, its installed on a Linux 7.2 and I'm doing the work on that local machine, either command line via xterms or ssh sessions or X desktop programs whatever works best.

Thanks again.