In this article, we will guide you through the process of completely removing MySQL 5.7 from your Ubuntu 18.04 system. This might be necessary if you wish to reinstall MySQL, upgrade to a newer version, or switch to a different SQL server.
To completely remove MySQL 5.7 on Ubuntu 18.04, you need to stop the MySQL service, remove the MySQL packages, remove any remaining MySQL packages, delete MySQL files and directories, and clean up any remaining configuration files. After completing these steps, MySQL should be completely removed from your system.
Precautions
Before proceeding, ensure that you have a backup of all your databases. The removal process will delete all the data stored in your MySQL server. If you need to save your databases, you can use the mysqldump utility to export your databases to text files.
Step 1: Stop the MySQL Service
Firstly, if your MySQL server is currently running, you need to stop it. Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo systemctl stop mysqlThe systemctl command is used to control the systemd system and service manager. stop is an option that halts the service, and mysql is the name of the service we want to stop.
Step 2: Remove MySQL Packages
Next, we will remove the MySQL packages. In the terminal, execute the following command:
sudo apt purge mysql-server mysql-client mysql-common mysql-server-core-* mysql-client-core-*The apt command is a package handling utility in Ubuntu. The purge option removes packages and their configuration files. The list that follows purge contains the names of MySQL packages that will be removed.
Step 3: Remove Remaining MySQL Packages
To ensure that all MySQL-related packages are removed, run the following command:
sudo apt autoremoveThe autoremove option is used to remove packages that were automatically installed to satisfy dependencies for other packages and are now no longer needed.
Step 4: Remove MySQL Files and Directories
Now, we will remove all MySQL-related files and directories. Run these commands:
sudo rm -rf /etc/mysql /var/lib/mysql /var/log/mysqlThe rm command is used to remove files or directories. The -rf option is used to remove directories and their contents recursively and without asking for confirmation. The paths following -rf are the locations of MySQL files and directories.
Step 5: Clean Up Remaining Configuration Files
Finally, to clean up any remaining configuration files, run the same commands as in Step 4.
After completing these steps, MySQL should be completely removed from your system. You can then proceed with a fresh installation of MySQL if desired. For a detailed guide on how to install MySQL on Ubuntu 18.04, you can refer to this DigitalOcean tutorial.
Please note that removing MySQL may also remove other packages that depend on it. If you have other applications that rely on MySQL, you may need to reinstall or reconfigure them after reinstalling MySQL.
We hope this guide was helpful in successfully removing MySQL 5.7 from your Ubuntu 18.04 system. Always remember to backup your data before performing such operations to avoid any data loss.
Yes, after completely removing MySQL, you can reinstall it on your Ubuntu 18.04 system. You can refer to the DigitalOcean tutorial mentioned in the article for detailed instructions on how to install MySQL.
Yes, removing MySQL will delete all the data stored in your MySQL server, including your databases. It is important to back up your databases using the mysqldump utility before proceeding with the removal process. You can then import these backup files after reinstalling MySQL if needed.
If you have other applications that depend on MySQL, removing MySQL may also remove those packages. After reinstalling MySQL, you may need to reinstall or reconfigure those applications to ensure they work properly. Make sure to check the dependencies of your other applications before removing MySQL.
The steps provided in the article cover the common configuration files and directories for MySQL. However, there might be additional files or directories specific to your system or setup. If you encounter any issues after removing MySQL, you can search for and remove any remaining MySQL-related files or directories manually.
Yes, after removing MySQL, you can switch to a different SQL server if desired. There are several alternatives to MySQL, such as MariaDB or PostgreSQL, which you can install and configure on your Ubuntu 18.04 system. However, the process of switching to a different SQL server may vary depending on the specific server you choose. It is recommended to refer to the documentation or tutorials provided by the respective SQL server for instructions on installation and configuration.
