How to install MySQL or MariaDB on CentOS, RHEL, and Fedora

Deploying MySQL or MariaDB turns a CentOS, RHEL, or Fedora host into a persistent SQL backend for web apps, automation, and local development. A packaged database server provides predictable service management, log locations, and update handling compared to ad‑hoc binaries.

On the RHEL family, installation delivers the database daemon (mysqld for MySQL or mariadb for MariaDB), client tools, and a systemd unit file. After the unit is started and enabled, the server accepts local socket connections and can listen on TCP port 3306 based on its configuration.

Service names, default authentication, and the exact mysql_secure_installation prompts vary by database flavor and distro release, and some RHEL-family releases deliver specific database versions via DNF module streams. Exposing TCP 3306 to untrusted networks is a common misstep, and remote administrative access is best handled with least‑privilege users and tight firewall rules.

1. Update the system packages.

   $ sudo dnf update
   [sudo] password for user:
   CentOS Stream 9 - BaseOS                        2.1 MB/s | 4.7 MB     00:02
   CentOS Stream 9 - AppStream                     2.2 MB/s |  14 MB     00:06
   CentOS Stream 9 - Extras packages               3.0 kB/s |  10 kB     00:03
   Dependencies resolved.
   Nothing to do.
   Complete!

   On older RHEL-family systems that still use yum, replace dnf with yum.

2. Install either MySQL or MariaDB package from the repository.

   $ sudo dnf install mysql-server
   Last metadata expiration check: 0:03:24 ago on Sun 12 Feb 2023 06:37:41 AM +08.
   Dependencies resolved.
   ================================================================================
    Package                       Arch       Version            Repository    Size
   ================================================================================
   Installing:
    mysql-server                  aarch64    8.0.30-3.el9       appstream     16 M
   Installing dependencies:
    mariadb-connector-c-config    noarch     3.2.6-1.el9        appstream     11 k
    mecab                         aarch64    0.996-3.el9.3      appstream    344 k
    mysql                         aarch64    8.0.30-3.el9       appstream    2.9 M
    mysql-common                  aarch64    8.0.30-3.el9       appstream     75 k
    mysql-errmsg                  aarch64    8.0.30-3.el9       appstream    484 k
    mysql-selinux                 noarch     1.0.5-1.el9        appstream     36 k
    protobuf-lite                 aarch64    3.14.0-13.el9      appstream    217 k
   
   Transaction Summary
   ================================================================================
   Install  8 Packages
   
   Total download size: 20 M
   Installed size: 175 M

   Install mariadb-server instead to install MariaDB server.

3. Start the MySQL or MariaDB service.

   $ sudo systemctl start mysqld

   Use

   $ sudo systemctl start mariadb

   if MariaDB was installed.

4. Enable the service to start automatically on boot.

   $ sudo systemctl enable mysqld
   Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/mysqld.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/mysqld.service.

   Use

   $ sudo systemctl enable --now mysqld

   to combine enablement and startup.

5. Verify the installation by checking the service status.

   $ sudo systemctl status mysqld
   ● mysqld.service - MySQL 8.0 database server
        Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/mysqld.service; enabled; preset: disabled)
        Active: active (running) since Sun 12 Feb 2023 06:44:12 AM +08; 8s ago
   ##### snipped #####

   Check mariadb.service status with

   $ sudo systemctl status mariadb

   if MariaDB was installed.

6. Run the security script to configure the database installation.

   $ sudo mysql_secure_installation
   
   Securing the MySQL server deployment.
   
   Connecting to MySQL using a blank password.

   Some MySQL packages require a temporary root password from /var/log/mysqld.log (look for temporary password) before mysql_secure_installation can connect.

7. Set a password for the root user.

   Please set the password for root here.
   
   New password:
   Re-enter new password:
   Estimated strength of the password: 100
   Do you wish to continue with the password provided?(Press y|Y for Yes, any other key for No) : y

   Storing the root password in shell history or scripts can compromise the database host.

8. Remove the anonymous user account.

   Remove anonymous users? (Press y|Y for Yes, any other key for No) : y

9. Disable remote root login.

   Disallow root login remotely? (Press y|Y for Yes, any other key for No) : y

   Remote administration is safer with a dedicated user restricted to required databases and hosts.

10. Remove the test database.

    Remove test database and access to it? (Press y|Y for Yes, any other key for No) : y

11. Reload privilege tables to apply changes.

    Reload privilege tables now? (Press y|Y for Yes, any other key for No) : y

12. Connect to the database using the mysql client for testing.

    $ mysql -u root -p
    Enter password:
    Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
    Your MySQL connection id is 14
    Server version: 8.0.30 Source distribution
    
    mysql> SELECT VERSION();
    +-----------+
    | VERSION() |
    +-----------+
    | 8.0.30    |
    +-----------+
    1 row in set (0.00 sec)
    
    mysql> exit
    Bye