I’m currently working on a project that relies on MySQL, and I need to ensure that I’m using the correct version for compatibility reasons. However, I’m unsure how to check the version of MySQL that’s installed on my Linux system. I’ve tried a few commands in the terminal, like `mysql –version` and `mysqld –version`, but I’m not getting the information I need—or at least, I’m not confident in interpreting the output.
I’ve looked up various methods online, but some of them seem outdated or not applicable to my specific setup. Is there a step-by-step way to reliably check the MySQL version across different distributions? Also, what if I have multiple MySQL instances or versions installed? Will the commands I use provide the version details for a specific instance, or do I need to specify something extra? Guidance on this would be hugely appreciated, especially if there are any common pitfalls or errors I should watch out for. Thank you in advance for your help!
How to Check MySQL Version in Linux
Okay, so you wanna know what version of MySQL you’re using on your Linux computer, right? No worries, it’s pretty simple!
Using the Command Line
First, you gotta open your terminal. It’s like the black window where you type stuff. So, just hit Ctrl + Alt + T to open it up. Cool?
Now, Here’s What to Do
In the terminal, just type this command:
Then hit Enter. If MySQL is installed, it will show you the version number. Like, something like:
mysql Ver 15.1 Distrib 10.3.23-MariaDB, for debian-linux-gnu (x86_64) using readline 5.2
If That Doesn’t Work…
If you get an error, you might wanna try:
Same deal, just hits Enter again.
What If MySQL Is Not Installed?
If both commands don’t work, then hey, maybe you don’t have MySQL installed. You can check that by typing:
This will list any MySQL packages you have. If it’s empty, time to install it!
Easy Peasy!
And that’s pretty much it! You’re now a little savvy about checking MySQL version. Go on and give it a shot!
To check the MySQL version on a Linux system, you can execute a few straightforward commands in the terminal. The most common method is by using the MySQL client itself. Open your terminal and log into MySQL with the command: `mysql -u [username] -p`, replacing `[username]` with your actual MySQL user. After you enter your password, you can check the version immediately by executing the SQL command `SELECT VERSION();`. This will return the current MySQL version in use. Alternatively, if you don’t want to log in, you can use the command `mysql –version` or `mysql -V`, which will display the version of the MySQL client installed on your system.
Should you prefer to retrieve version information from the command line without entering the MySQL shell, you might also use the `dpkg` command if you’re on a Debian-based system, like so: `dpkg -l | grep mysql-server`, and this will list the MySQL server version along with other installed packages. For RPM-based systems, you would use `rpm -qa | grep mysql-server`. Additionally, if you have MySQL installed via a Docker container, you can check the version with `docker exec -it [container_name] mysql –version`, making sure to replace `[container_name]` with the actual name of your MySQL container. These methods give you quick access to version information directly from the terminal, which is an essential skill for effective database management in any Linux environment.