Appendix E. MySQL Program Reference

This appendix describes the MySQL programs named in the following list. Later in the appendix, each program is described in more detail, including a description of its purpose, its invocation syntax, the options it supports, and a description of any internal variables it has. (Note that programs are ordered without regard to any '_' or '.' characters in their names.) Unless otherwise indicated, the program options and variables listed here have been present in MySQL at least as far back as MySQL 3.22.0.

• libmysqld

  The embedded MySQL server. This isn't really a program; it's a library that you link into other programs to produce standalone applications that include a server.

• myisamchk and isamchk

  Utilities for checking and repairing tables, performing key distribution analysis, and de-activating and re-activating indexes.

• myisampack and pack_isam

  Utilities to produce compressed read-only tables.

• mysql

  Interactive program with line-editing capabilities for sending queries to the MySQL server; can also be used in batch mode to execute queries stored in a file.

• mysqlaccess

  Script for testing access privileges.

• mysqladmin

  Utility for performing administrative operations.

• mysqlbinlog

  Utility for displaying binary update logs in ASCII format.

• mysqlbug

  Script for generating bug reports.

• mysqlcheck

  Table checking, repair, optimization, and analysis utility.

• mysql_config

  Utility that displays proper flags for compiling MySQL-based programs.

• mysqld

  The MySQL server; this program must be running so that clients have access to the databases administered by the server.

• mysqld_multi

  Script for starting and stopping multiple servers.

• mysqld_safe

  Script for starting up and monitoring the MySQL server. (Prior to MySQL 4, this script is named safe_mysqld.)

• mysqldump

  Utility for dumping the contents of database tables.

• mysqlhotcopy

  Database backup utility.

• mysqlimport

  Utility for bulk loading of data into tables.

• mysql_install_db

  Script for initializing the server's data directory and grant tables.

• mysql.server

  Script for starting up and shutting down the MySQL server.

• mysqlshow

• Utility that provides information about databases or tables.

In the syntax descriptions, optional information is indicated by square brackets ([]).