The MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard is normally started as part of the installation process. You should only need to run the MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard again when you need to change the configuration parameters of your server.
If you chose not to open a port prior to installing MySQL on Windows Vista or newer, you can choose to use the MySQL Server Configuration Wizard after installation. However, you must open a port in the Windows Firewall. To do this see the instructions given in Section 22.214.171.124, “Downloading and Starting the MySQL Installation Wizard”. Rather than opening a port, you also have the option of adding MySQL as a program that bypasses the Windows Firewall. One or the other option is sufficient—you need not do both. Additionally, when running the MySQL Server Configuration Wizard on Windows Vista or newer, ensure that you are logged in as a user with administrative rights.
You can launch the MySQL Configuration Wizard by clicking the MySQL Server Instance Config Wizard entry in the MySQL section of the Windows Start menu.
Alternatively, you can navigate to the
directory of your MySQL installation and launch the
MySQLInstanceConfig.exe file directly.
The MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard places the
my.ini file in the installation directory
for the MySQL server. This helps associate configuration files
with particular server instances.
To ensure that the MySQL server knows where to look for the
my.ini file, an argument similar to this is
passed to the MySQL server as part of the service installation:
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\my.ini"
C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server
5.0 is replaced with the installation
path to the MySQL Server. The
--defaults-file option instructs
the MySQL server to read the specified file for configuration
options when it starts.
Apart from making changes to the
file by running the MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard
again, you can modify it by opening it with a text editor and
making any necessary changes. You can also modify the server
configuration with the
http://www.mysql.com/products/administrator/ utility. For more
information about server configuration, see
Server Command Options.
MySQL clients and utilities such as the mysql
and mysqldump command-line clients are not
able to locate the
my.ini file located in
the server installation directory. To configure the client and
utility applications, create a new
file in the Windows installation directory (for example,
Under Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 and Windows XP,
MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard will configure MySQL
to work as a Windows service. To start and stop MySQL you use
Services application that is supplied
as part of the Windows Administrator Tools.