---
name: databases-for-mysql-getting-started
title: Getting started with Databases for MySQL
description: This tutorial guides you through deploying and managing IBM Cloud® Databases for MySQL on IBM Cloud. With MySQL Workbench, an open-source tool, you can easily manage your data and databases.
last-updated: 2026-05-18
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Getting started with Databases for MySQL
{: #getting-started}
{: toc-content-type="tutorial"}
{: toc-completion-time="30m"}

This tutorial guides you through deploying and managing IBM Cloud® Databases for MySQL on IBM Cloud. With MySQL Workbench, an open-source tool, you can easily manage your data and databases.

MySQL Workbench provides many tools to help you manage your database effortlessly so you can focus on building and scaling your applications.
{: tip}

## Before you begin
{: #mysql-prereqs}

- Create an [IBM Cloud account](https://cloud.ibm.com/registration).
- Provision Databases for MySQL from the [IBM Cloud catalog](https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog/services/databases-for-mysql).
- Configure the [admin password](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-user-management&interface=ui&format=markdown#user-management-set-admin-password-ui) for secure access.
- Download and install [MySQL Workbench](https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench/){: .external}.
- Review the [Getting to production guide](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cloud-databases?topic=cloud-databases-getting-to-production&interface=ui&format=markdown) for optimal configuration.

## Connect to your database
{: #connect-to-database}
{: step}

Set up your connection to IBM Cloud® Databases for MySQL by performing the following steps:

1. Open MySQL Workbench.
2. Add a new connection with your database details.
3. Save the connection settings and connect to your database.

For detailed instructions, see the [MySQL Workbench documentation](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb-mysql-connections.html){: .external}.

## Provision a MySQL deployment
{: #mysql-deployment}
{: step}

To create your MySQL deployment:

1. Log in to the IBM Cloud Console.
2. Go to [Databases for MySQL Service](https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog/services/databases-for-mysql) in the catalog.
3. Configure the following:
   - **Service name**: Choose a memorable name for your deployment.
   - **Resource group**: Select the appropriate resource group.
   - **Location:** The deployment's public cloud region.
   - **Resource allocation**: Define initial RAM, disk, and CPU resources.
4. Click **Create** to finalize the deployment.

Once created, your deployment automatically scales and manages availability across zones for resilience.
{: tip}

## Connect to your database with the CLI
{: #mysql-connect-db-cli}
{: cli}
{: step}

To connect to your database from the CLI, see the [Cloud Databases CLI reference](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-cli-plugin?topic=databases-cli-plugin-cdb-reference&format=markdown) and [Connecting with mysql](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb-mysql-connections.html){: external}.

The `ibmcloud cdb deployment-connections` command handles everything involved in creating a command-line client connection. For example, to connect to a deployment named `example-mysql`, use the following command:

```sh
ibmcloud cdb deployment-connections example-mysql --start
```
{: pre}

The command prompts for the admin password and then runs the `mysql` command-line client to connect to the database. For more information, see [Connecting with mysql](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-connecting-mysql&format=markdown).

## Connect with MySQL Workbench
{: #mysql-connect-db-workbench}
{: step}

Use MySQL Workbench to manage and interact with your MySQL database visually.

1. Open MySQL Workbench.
2. Create a new connection:
   - Go to **Database > Manage connections** and add a new connection.
   - Fill in your connection details (hostname, username, and password).
3. Test the connection:
   - Click **Test connection** to ensure everything is set up correctly.
4. Save and connect:
   - Save your connection settings and proceed to connect to your database.

For more information, see [Connections in MySQL Workbench](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb-mysql-connections.html){: .external}.

## Product overview
{: #mysql-product-overview}

IBM Cloud® Databases for MySQL is a serverless, fully managed cloud database service. It offers the following main benefits:

- Automated maintenance: No manual software, infrastructure, network or OS administration is required.
- High availabilty: Deployed across multiple data centers with failover capabilities.
- Scalability: Independently scale disk, RAM, and vCPU with auto-scaling and hourly billing.
- Asynchronous replication: It ensures that data is available across multiple locations for high availability, and overall system responsiveness.
- Security: Choose between multi-tenant or isolated environments, depending on your security needs.

## Key features
{: #mysql-key-features}

- Seamless scaling: Easily scale instances horizontally with read replicas, both regionally and cross-regionally.
- Disaster recovery: Built-in options for cross-regional disaster recovery.
- Dedicated cores: Configure with vCPUs for hypervisor-level isolation.

For more information on isolation settings, see the [Security and Compliance section](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cloud-databases?topic=cloud-databases-manage-security-compliance&format=markdown).
{: note}

## Next steps
{: #mysql-next-steps}

- If you are using MySQL for the first time, see the [MySQL 8.0 reference manual](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/){: .external}.
- You can connect, manage your databases, and manage data with MySQL's command-line interface (CLI) tool [`mysql`](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-connecting-mysql&format=markdown).
- To manage your deployment, connect to your deployment with the [IBM Cloud CLI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?topic=cli-install-ibmcloud-cli&format=markdown), the [Cloud Databases CLI plug-in](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-cli-plugin?topic=databases-cli-plugin-cdb-reference&format=markdown), or the [Cloud Databases API](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/cloud-databases-api).
- If you plan to use Databases for MySQL for your applications, check out [Connecting an external application](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-external-app&format=markdown) and [Connecting an IBM Cloud application](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-ibmcloud-app&format=markdown).
- To ensure the stability of your applications and your database, check out [High availability](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-ha-dr&format=markdown) and [Performance](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/databases-for-mysql?topic=databases-for-mysql-performance&format=markdown).