This chapter describes how to download and install MySQL. MySQL is available for a wide variety of target operating systems. In this chapter, we provide an overview of how to install MySQL in binary and source formats for Solaris and Linux as well as binary installation for Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP. Though we specifically address only Solaris, Linux, and Win32, the Solaris/Linux instructions apply to most Unix-based operating systems, including Mac OS X, FreeBSD, and AIX.