How to Check the MySQL Version

In this quick tutorial, we'll learn how to check the MySQL version of a server. Without a doubt, MySQL is one of the most popular RDBMS (Relational database management system)  options available, so you'll find it pretty much everywhere. There can be some pretty staggering differences between MySQL versions, so knowing which version you're working with is important. Learn here how to check the version of MySQL your server is using!

Let's start with a quick video review of this subject:

Check the MySQL version

• These instructions are intended for checking the MySQL (or MariaDB) version on our VPS server (and are similar to the dedicated server directions as well).
• We'll be working from our high-availability MySQL server, and I'll be logged in as root.

From the Command Line

1. With a command line open, enter the following command:
   subject

mysql -V
mysql Ver 15.1 Distrib 10.1.29-MariaDB, for Linux (x86_64) using readline 5.1

From the MySQL Client

1. When you run the MySQL command client without any flags the version will be displayed. So while logged in via SSH enter:

mysql

Welcome to the MariaDB monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g. Your MariaDB connection id is 4 Server version: 10.1.29-MariaDB MariaDB Server

Copyright (c) 2000, 2017, Oracle, MariaDB Corporation Ab and others. Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. 

Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

The server version in this example is 10.1.29-MariaDB MariaDB Server.

2. From within the MySQL client, you can also run the following command for more details:

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE "%version%"; 

+-------------------------+----------------------------+
| Variable_name           | Value                      |
+-------------------------+----------------------------+
| innodb_version          | 5.6.36-82.2                |
| protocol_version        | 10                         |
| slave_type_conversions  |                            |
| version                 | 10.1.29-MariaDB            |
| version_comment         | MariaDB Server             |
| version_compile_machine | x86_64                     |
| version_compile_os      | Linux                      |
| version_malloc_library  | system                     |
| version_ssl_library     | OpenSSL 1.1.0g  2 Nov 2017 |
| wsrep_patch_version     | wsrep_25.21                |
+-------------------------+----------------------------+
10 rows in set (0.02 sec) 

In this block of text, you'll find additional version details about your installed MySQL software like innodb_version, protocol_version, version_ssl_library, and more.

From The PHPMyAdmin Interface

If you aren't familiar with running commands through ssh, you may have access to PHPMyAdmin on the server which gives a nice graphical interface for managing the databases. If you have cPanel or Plesk access you should be able to open PHPMyAdmin when logged in to the hosting account. In PHPMyAdmin on the right side, it should have information listen under the "Database server" section and the "Server version" is what shows the MySQL or MariaDB version is running on the server.

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