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September 20, 2011

Using cPanel to Create a MySQL Database

Let's go over a basic but important cPanl tutorial today, and use the ubiquitous cPanel to create an equally ubiquitous MySQL database.  Come on, all the cool kds are doing it.

Start out by going down your cPanel home page.  Where it is will depend on the version of cPanel that you are using, but somewhere on the page, likely midway down, you should find the “Databases” section.  Our journey begins there.

MySQL Database Wizard

There are two ways to start.  You could click on the link “MySQL Databases,” and this will get you to a page where you can start adding databases.  This isn't the most user-friendly option, though.  You might want to use this once you get the hang of things, but for right now, our instruction is going to guide you through the beginner's tool, the MySQL Database Wizard.  Click on that link. In fact, we will advise you to ignore the other two links for now as well: they're even more advanced.

Fill in the blanks

Now it's time to fill out the basic database information.

• Step 1: Database name – Just as it sounds, though make sure it's specific enough, in case you wind up using multiple databases.  Naturally make sure it's something you're not going to be annoyed at having to type over and over.
• Step 2: Create Database Users – This takes some clarification.  This isn't “users” in the sense that you might think.  “Users” in this case refers to the different types of accesses (mostly done by the server, though also by you if you are editing data) to your database; these will this mostly be hidden, and so you can have a little fun with them.
• Step 3: User privileges – If you were confused by Step 2 this should clear it all up.  This page will let you setup the different privileges afforded to this user.  Don't panic if you're not entirely sure about some of the values: you can always change them later.  From the beginning if you're not sure then just make sure that there's one user (you) who has universal privileges, and then make sure other users are more restricted, since most of these rights confer some type of ability to alter the database.

That's it?

And you're done!  You were probably expecting this to be something a little more difficult, right?  MySQL is the popular choice for a reason.  Databases and spreadsheet software has this tendency to make new users run screaming in horror at the perceived learning curve, but the truth is that they're amazingly easy to work with these days.

Now that you've gotten the hang of it, you are probably safe to start using the MySQL Databases tool.  This will allow you to perform various types of database modifications, fixes, alterations, or will just let you delete it and start from scratch if you need.  Then of course, there is actually using your MySQL database.  If this is the first time you've ever worked with it, then that is a whole separate course for another day, though again, it's really not as hard as it seems. In the meantime you are the proud owner of a shiny new database.

Tags: setup,  mysql,  tutorial,  database,  software,  server,  cpanel tutorial,  databases,  down time,  type-in,  up time,  MySQL databases,  links,  IT,  new server,  cPanel