Accessing MySQL Database with ASP.NET

Overview
In this step by step tutorial we will learn how to obtain, install, configure and run MySQL database on Windows. We will then move on to create a table in MySQL database, populate this table with some records and then display those records in the browser using an ASP.NET page.

This tutorial assumes no prior experience with MySQL, though basic knowledge of SQL syntax will be useful. It is assumed that you have a working ASP.NET/IIS installation on your system and you know how to create and view an ASP.NET page. For some beginner ASP.NET articles, have a look at our ASP.NET section.

All examples assume a working installation of IIS 5.0/6.0 and ASP.NET 1.1 on Windows 2000 or above (Windows XP, Windows Server 2003). To obtain information on installing IIS 5.0 and ASP.NET 1.1 move over to ASP.NET web site. The techniques discussed in this article for obtaining, installing, configuring and running MySQL will work the same across almost all versions of Windows (including Windows 98), but installing it as a service and running the ASP.NET page will require NT based Windows systems.

Topics covered in this article:

1. Why use MySQL on Windows?
2. Obtaining and Installing MySQL.
3. Configuring and Running MySQL.
4. Setting root password and removing ghost account.
5. Installing, Uninstalling MySQL as a Windows service.
6. Creating a new table in MySQL database and populating it with some records.
7. Creating the ASP.NET page to display those records.

Why use MySQL on Windows?
MySQL is the most popular free and opensource database used across all major operating systems from UNIX to Windows. It provides ease of installation, simplicity and fast data access to an array of clients from Java based systems to .NET applications.

Using it on Windows has several advantages:

• Comes for free! - Unlike other production level database systems for Windows like SQL Server and Oracle, MySQL comes for free. Looking at the huge license fees of these commercial RDBMS, it is virtually impossible for a single person or small groups of users to afford their license fees. MySQL comes to rescue!
• Very fast data access! - Not like SQL Server, but still very fast. Access database is no match for MySQL. You'll know it's speed when you use it.
• Very stable and used by large number of organizations! - Although it offers no real support (besides the ones by some free online forums and usenet sites), it mostly doesn't need any. You can though obtain commercial support from the MySQL AB company itself if you want to. MySQL is used by large number of organizations Worldwide from small Gigabyte databases to huge storage systems in Terabytes.
• Very popular among developers! - Developers simply love it. Why? use it and you'll know.
• Cross platform! - Use it on Windows, or get a dedicated box running Linux/FreeBSD (which are again free Operating Systems), choice is yours.