Appendix A: Answers to Mastery Checks

Module 1: Installing MySQL

1.	Which pairs of the following words mean the same thing: row, field, key, record, index, column ?
2.	What is the distinguishing feature of a relational database?
3.	Is open source software always free of cost?
4.	What are the seven criteria you should use to evaluate operating systems?
5.	Of the seven criteria used to evaluate operating systems, which show the most difference?
6.	In Windows, if you require tables larger than 4GB, on what type of file system will you need to install MySQL and what commands must be used when creating the tables?
7.	In Linux, what is the command syntax for installing an .rpm file?
8.	In Linux, what is the syntax on the two commands to set a password?
9.	What does ODBC stand for and which OS is most likely to require it?
10.	Why does this guide initially choose to use the command line to interface with MySQL instead of a GUI?

Answers

1.	Row and record both refer to the sets of connected data in a table. Field and column refer to the individual pieces of data that form those sets. Key and index both refer to a field set as the specific piece of a record used for indexing the data for quicker retrieval.
2.	Row and record both refer to the sets of connected data in a table. Field and column refer to the individual pieces of data that form those sets. Key and index both refer to a field set as the specific piece of a record used for indexing the data for quicker retrieval.
3.	The key, which allows for indexing, is the distinguishing feature of a relational database.
4.	The seven criteria for evaluating an OS are ease of use, reliability, speed, functionality, price, integration with Microsoft technologies, and availability of free/open source software.
5.	The price criterion displays the widest range of differences, often making it the deciding factor.
6.	The file system must be NTFS or newer , and the tables must be made using the max_rows and avg_row_length commands.
7.	The proper syntax is either rpm -i < server filename > <client filename> or: rpm Uvh < server filename > rpm Uvh < client filename >
8.	The proper syntax for setting the MySQL password consists of these two lines: usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password <your password>/ usr /bin/mysqladmin -u root -h `hostname` password < your password >
9.	ODBC stands for Open Database Connectivity, a database abstraction layer that allows (mostly Windows) applications to access the database.
10.	For the beginning learning process, typing the syntax on the command line has proved more conducive to long- term learning than the point-and-click environment of a GUI.