Table of content

1. Introduction
2. Why uninstall MySQL on Ubuntu 18.04
3. Preparing for uninstallation
4. Step-by-step uninstallation process
5. Step 1: Stopping the MySQL service
6. Step 2: Uninstalling MySQL server and client
7. Step 3: Removing MySQL data directory
8. Step 4: Removing MySQL configuration files
9. Verifying MySQL has been uninstalled
10. Conclusion

Introduction

MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system, which is used by developers and businesses worldwide. However, there are instances where you may need to uninstall MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system. It could be because you are switching to a different database management system, or you may be facing issues with MySQL and need to reinstall it. Whatever the reason, uninstalling MySQL on Ubuntu 18.04 can be a daunting task if you are not familiar with the terminal commands. This subtopic will guide you through the process of uninstalling MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system using simple code examples. With these code examples, you can easily remove MySQL from your system and avoid any future complications.

Why uninstall MySQL on Ubuntu 18.04

MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system that is widely used by many applications on Ubuntu 18.04. However, there may be circumstances when you need to uninstall MySQL from your Ubuntu system.

Here are some reasons why you might want to uninstall MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system:

1. You don't need it: If you're not using any applications that require MySQL, you can save some disk space by uninstalling it.

2. To install a different database management system: If you want to switch to a different database management system, you need to first uninstall MySQL.

3. To perform a fresh installation: If you're having issues with your current MySQL installation, you might want to uninstall it and perform a fresh installation to see if that resolves the issue.

4. To clean up your system: If you have an outdated or unused version of MySQL installed on your system, you might want to uninstall it to clean up your system and avoid potential security risks.

Before uninstalling MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system, it's always a good idea to backup any important data you have stored in MySQL databases. Once you've backed up your data, you can then proceed to uninstall MySQL from your system.

Preparing for uninstallation

Before you uninstall MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system, there are a few things you should do to ensure a smooth process:

• Backup Your Databases – It's always a good idea to make a backup of your databases before uninstalling MySQL. This will ensure that you don't lose any important data in case something goes wrong during the uninstallation process.

• Stop the MySQL Service – You should stop the MySQL service before you begin the uninstallation process. This can be done using the following command in your terminal:

  sudo systemctl stop mysql
  

• Remove MySQL Packages – You can use the following command to remove all MySQL packages from your system:

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

• Remove MySQL Configuration Files – Remove all MySQL configuration files that are left behind after running the previous command. Use the following command to do so:

  sudo rm -rf /etc/mysql/
  

By following these steps, you'll be able to safely and completely uninstall MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system.

Step-by-step uninstallation process

Uninstalling MySQL from an Ubuntu 18.04 system is a simple process that can be easily accomplished using a few command line prompts. Follow these step-by-step instructions to remove MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system:

1. Open a terminal window on your Ubuntu 18.04 system.

2. Stop the MySQL server by entering the following command:

sudo systemctl stop mysql

3. Next, enter the following command to uninstall MySQL:

sudo apt-get remove --purge mysql-server mysql-client mysql-common -y

4. Then, use this command to remove any remaining MySQL data and configuration files:

sudo apt-get autoremove --purge mysql-server-5.7 mysql-client-5.7 mysql-server-core-5.7 mysql-client-core-5.7 -y

5. Finally, use this command to clean up any remaining configurations:

sudo apt-get autoclean

Congratulations, you have successfully uninstalled MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system!

Conclusion

Uninstalling MySQL from Ubuntu 18.04 is a simple process that can be easily accomplished using a few command line prompts. Whether you need to remove MySQL to free up space on your system or to install a different database management system, these step-by-step instructions should help guide you safely through the process. If you encounter any issues or have any questions, be sure to consult the official MySQL documentation or seek help from the Ubuntu community.

Step 1: Stopping the MySQL service

Before uninstalling MySQL from Ubuntu 18.04, it's important to stop the MySQL service to prevent any potential conflicts or issues during the uninstallation process. Follow these simple steps to stop the MySQL service:

1. Open your terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard.
2. Type the following command to stop the MySQL service:

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service

3. Press Enter to execute the command.
4. You may be prompted to enter your password. Type your password and press Enter.
5. Once the MySQL service has been stopped, you can proceed with uninstalling MySQL from Ubuntu 18.04.

Stopping the MySQL service ensures that there are no active connections or processes running that could interfere with the uninstallation process. It's always a good idea to stop any services or processes before making any system changes to ensure that the changes are applied smoothly and efficiently.

In the next step, we'll take a look at how to remove the MySQL package from Ubuntu 18.04.

Step 2: Uninstalling MySQL server and client

Uninstalling MySQL server and client from Ubuntu 18.04 is a straightforward process that can be accomplished with a few simple commands in the terminal. These commands will remove both the server and client packages and any associated files and directories from your system, ensuring a complete uninstallation.

Here's how to uninstall MySQL server and client from Ubuntu 18.04:

1. Open the terminal on your Ubuntu 18.04 system.
2. Enter the following command to remove the MySQL server package: sudo apt-get remove mysql-server
3. Enter the following command to remove the MySQL client package: sudo apt-get remove mysql-client
4. After the packages have been removed, you can also remove any remaining configuration files and directories with the following command: sudo apt-get purge mysql-server mysql-client
5. Finally, you can clean up any remaining dependencies and packages by running the following command: sudo apt-get autoremove

With these commands, you should have successfully uninstalled MySQL server and client from your Ubuntu 18.04 system. It's worth noting that uninstalling MySQL will not delete any databases or data stored on your system, so be sure to back up any important data before proceeding with the uninstallation process.

Step 3: Removing MySQL data directory

Removing MySQL data directory

When you uninstall MySQL, some data directories may still remain on your system. To completely remove MySQL and its related files, you need to remove these directories as well.

Here are the steps to remove the MySQL data directories:

1. Open the terminal window.

2. Type the following command to remove the MySQL data directories:

   sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql
   

   • You will be prompted to enter your password. This is the password you use to log in to your system.

   • The sudo command gives you superuser privileges, allowing you to delete the directories.

   • The rm command is used to delete files and directories.

   • The -r flag tells the rm command to delete directories recursively.

   • The -f flag tells the rm command to force the deletion of files and directories without asking for confirmation.

3. Once you enter the command and your password, the MySQL data directories will be deleted.

4. You can verify that the directories have been deleted by typing the following command:

   ls /var/lib/mysql
   

   • This will list the directories in the /var/lib/mysql folder. If the folder is empty, it means that the directories have been successfully deleted.

With these steps, you have successfully uninstalled MySQL and removed its data directories from your system.

Step 4: Removing MySQL configuration files

Once you have uninstalled MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system, you may also want to remove its configuration files. This step is optional, but it can be useful if you want to completely remove all traces of MySQL from your system.

To remove the configuration files, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window.

2. Type the following command to remove the main MySQL configuration file:

    sudo rm /etc/mysql/my.cnf
   

3. Type the following command to remove the MySQL configuration directory:

    sudo rm -rf /etc/mysql/conf.d/
   

4. Type the following command to remove the MySQL data directory:

    sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql
   

Note: Be very careful when using the rm command, as it will permanently delete files and directories. Double-check that you have typed the correct file paths before executing these commands.

Congratulations! You have successfully uninstalled MySQL from your Ubuntu 18.04 system, and removed all of its configuration files. You can now move on to using a different database management system, or reinstalling MySQL if you wish.

Verifying MySQL has been uninstalled

To ensure that MySQL has been successfully uninstalled from your Ubuntu 18.04 system, you can follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window.

2. Type mysql and press Enter. If you receive an error message indicating that the program is not installed, then MySQL has been successfully uninstalled.

3. If MySQL is still installed, you can try running the command whereis mysql to find the location of the mysql binary file. This may help you determine whether the program has been fully removed or not.

4. You can also check the status of the MySQL service by running the command systemctl status mysql.service. If the service is not found, then it has been successfully uninstalled.

By following these steps, you can verify that MySQL has been fully uninstalled from your Ubuntu 18.04 system. If you encounter any issues or errors during this process, you can consult the MySQL documentation or seek assistance from the Ubuntu community.

Conclusion

In , MySQL is a widely used and powerful database management system, but there may be instances where you need to uninstall it from your Ubuntu 18.04 system. This can be done easily with the use of a few simple commands, as we have demonstrated in this article.

Remember that before uninstalling MySQL on Ubuntu 18.04, it is important to backup your data to prevent any data loss. We also recommend that you carefully read any prompts or warnings that may appear during the uninstallation process.

Whether you are uninstalling MySQL to install a new database management system or simply to free up disk space, these code examples will help make the process quick and easy. As always, if you encounter any issues or have any questions, feel free to reach out to the community for help. Good luck!