My head is up MySQL
 

OK - so i've set up a MySQL DB under Windows before, so I know it shouldn't be that difficult.

I installed RHES v3 and selected MySQL as a package to install as well. When I search the RPM's in the resulting installation, I find the following components:
libdbi-dbd-mysql-0.6.5-5
mysql-3.23.58-2.3
mysql-devel-3.23.58-2.3
perl-DBD-MySQL-2.1021-3
MySQL-python-0.9.1-6

OK - so looking through the documentation and such, I can't seem to find an actual document that relates directly to what I have installed. Everything talks so generically, it doesn't help me specifically, and when I find anything specific, it doesn't correlate to what I actually find on my hard drive.

Sooooo . . .

Look, this is all i want to do - make a DB, give it a name, and start it. It only needs one user with one password and one table. The most freaking simple DB in the world. It should be freaking easy, but its beyond me.

Do I have everything I need? (should I get yet another RPM)
Do I need to compile an RPM that I have already?
Should I delete this set of packets and get a different version which, theoretically is complete and ready to go?
Is there a secret document hiding from me some place?
Am i the first person to ever try to put MySQl on RedHat ES?
Where have the real superheros of our age gone to?

When you select the MySQL option during install or add/remove packages, you should try to look for a package named "mysql-server" and manually select it.

That was not selected by default for my Fedora Core 3 installation, so hopefully it will solve your problem too.

Great - kool, soooo let me ask you this - how do I know which MySQL server is best for my distrobution? I really don't see any guidance.

This one looks "OK" but how do I know?
MySQL-server-5.0.2-0.i386.rpm

What are all these other RPM's for then? I mean, if I am running a MySQL DB, do I need any of the others I have listed or can I trash them?

If you are just running basic mysql, them mysql-server should be all that is needed. The other packages are to enhance mysql.

-twantrd