Windows MySQL questions

[gs99]

After installing on Windows XP, is WinMySQLAdmin.exe (WMA) the only way to start MySQL?

WMA is supposed to add a user and password to the "grant" tables. Altho it does appear in the My.ini file, if I do this:
Mysql -u root
Use mysql;
Select user,host from user;
it prints:
USER--------HOST
(blank) build
root build
(blank) localhost
root localhost

Why does the user name that shows in My.ini not show here?
(I cannot connect with that user name.)

What is the "build" host?

If MySQL is on a pc for development, and it has access to the internet, does the internet have access to the server?
Do I need to be concerned about security in the same way as a web hosting server? I'm the only person who operates this pc.

Does the statement "The MySQL server should not run as the root user." refer to Windows? If yes, how is it run as a non-root user?

Thanks,
George

 

[Bastien]

read here

1. by default mysql installs with 4 accounts (root @ localhost, root @ % (from anywhere), empty user @localhost, and empty user @ %)

These should be changed, you can do this thru the command line (start button > run 'cmd' > naviagate to the mysql dir (usually c:\mysql) and start the mysql console (type: mysql)...follow the directions in the manual to change the user accounts / passwords...

2. Yes, you should be concerned. port scans against your machine may reveal the existance of the db server, which an attacker could use to gain control of the machine

3. Yes, it does refer to a windows root user. Most home users never get around to setting up accounts and having a pure admin account to manage the computer. Users operating as root have the power to change almost any system setting. Again its suggested to run the mysql server under a mysql account with limited privileges on the machine.

Have a read in the manual, it covers this and more when dealing with account setup, security and database admin

Bastien

Cat, the other other white meat

 

[gs99]

Thanks,

What exactly is "running/starting" the MySQL server?

1. With WinMySQLAdmin, when I select Win NT -> Start the Service, a dialog appears "Start the Service Manager for the MySQL Server". The traffic green light turns on.
(Note this does not say "Start the Server", but I can run programs that connect etc..)
If this action actually runs/starts the server, I see no options about running as root user or non-root user.

And what's the difference between that and doing this:
2. Start Command Prompt
Chdir C:\MySQL\binenter mysql -u root

If I "Stop the Service" via WinMySQLAdmin, and then try option 2,
I get an error message: "ERROR 2003: can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost'."
So Option 2 is not starting MySQL, just connecting to it?

WinMySQLAdmin is described in a book as "a great friend to Windows users who are just getting started with MySQL".
If it is not utilized, how else can MySQL server service get started?

Thanks,
George

 

[QatQat]

gs99,

the user in My.ini is NOT a MySQL user but a user with the privilege to start MySQL as a service at windoz boot time.

To install the service, forget WMA and run

cd c:\mysql\bin
mysqld-nt.exe -install

This will start the service at next boot provided that the user and password supplied in My.ini have administrator rights in xp. generally in windoz xp your normal account will also be administrator. so, never put mysql root user in my.ini.

To set mysql passwords and rights use the grant command.

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql/en/GRANT.html

Bye

Qatqat


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