To check the status of a MySQL server on a Linux system, you can utilize several command-line tools and methods. One primary way is by using the `systemctl` command, which interfaces with the systemd system and service manager. Execute `sudo systemctl status mysql` in your terminal. This command will provide you with detailed information about the MySQL service, including its current state (active/running, inactive, or failed), the main process ID, and any logged errors since the last restart. In the absence of systemd, you might want to use the `service mysql status` command instead, which serves a similar purpose on systems using SysVinit.

Alternatively, if you want to directly interact with MySQL to ascertain its operational status, you can use the MySQL client itself. Running `mysqladmin -u root -p status` will prompt for the root user’s password and return real-time statistics like uptime, threads, questions, and slow queries. In more complex environments or when remote server query status is needed, consider connecting via SSH and executing this command on the remote machine. Monitoring tools like `MySQL Workbench` or the `MySQL Shell` are also excellent for a graphical view of server status if you find the command line daunting. Each of these techniques contributes to a comprehensive understanding of your MySQL server’s health and performance metrics.