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MySQL Installation and Security Configuration on Ubuntu (Step by Step)

What will you learn in this guide?​

In this guide, MySQL 8.0 installation on Ubuntu 20.04 and above systems,
Solving the auth_socket authentication problem,
You will learn the steps of security configuration and creating a custom user.

🧠 Technical Summary​

Subject: Installing and securing MySQL 8.0 on Ubuntu
Problem: Default MySQL installation is not secure and auth_socket loop error
Steps: Setup → Security → Create user → Authorization → Testing

What is MySQL?​

MySQL is an open source relational database management system.
It is one of the most basic components of the LAMP architecture.

Prerequisites​

  • Ubuntu 20.04 or above
  • User with authority sudo
  • UFW firewall must be configured

1. MySQL Installation​

Update package list​

sudo apt update
  • This command updates the system package list.

Install MySQL Server​


sudo apt install mysql-server
  • This command installs the MySQL 8.0 package.

Start the service​


sudo systemctl start mysql.service
  • This command runs the MySQL service.

2. MySQL Security Configuration​

  1. On Ubuntu, the MySQL root user is authenticated with auth_socket by default.
  • This may cause an error loop during mysql_secure_installation.

Preventing error loop​

  1. Enter the MySQL console

sudo mysql
  • Temporarily set root user with password

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost'
IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'GeciciGucluSifre';

Sign out


exit

Run the security wizard


sudo mysql_secure_installation

Recommended choices:

  1. Validate Password Plugin → Y

  2. Password Policy → STRONG

  3. Anonymous users → Remove

  4. Remote root login → Disable

  5. Test database → Remove

  6. Reload privileges → Yes

  1. Log in with root using password

mysql -u root -p
  • go back to auth_socket method

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH auth_socket;
exit
  • In this way, you can log in again with sudo mysql.

3. Creating a Custom MySQL User​

  1. It is not recommended to use the root user in applications.
  • Open MySQL console

sudo mysql
  1. Create new user

CREATE USER 'genixnode_admin'@'localhost'
IDENTIFIED BY 'GucluBirSifre!';
  1. Delegate

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* 
TO 'genixnode_admin'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;

- Note: In production, it is safer to grant only necessary permissions.

  1. Update authorizations

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit

4. Testing the Installation​

  1. Check service status

systemctl status mysql.service
  • The status must be active (running).

Login test with user​


mysql -u genixnode_admin -p
  • Version control

sudo mysqladmin -u genixnode_admin -p version

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)​

1. Why does MySQL use auth_socket? Ubuntu prefers this to map root access to system users.

2. MariaDB or MySQL? MariaDB is community-focused, MySQL has the broader enterprise ecosystem.

3. MySQL service does not start, what should I do? Check /var/log/mysql/error.log file.

4. What if I want to completely uninstall MySQL?


sudo apt purge mysql-server mysql-client mysql-common

Result​

With this guide, you have installed a safe, stable and production-ready MySQL on Ubuntu.

For higher performance and scalability, you can immediately try MySQL compatible VDS solutions on the GenixNode infrastructure.