I was trying to compile and install the MySQL software. After configuring, I typed in the #make command but got this response:

make: ***No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.

Can you help me with this? Thank you.

You probably had a problem in config phase. It didn't generate the Makefile. Run config again and look its messages. It will show you the error. Maybe some library you don't have installed on your system.

Thanks for the fast reply. Really appreciate it. I ran the configuration part again and this is what I got:

NOTE: This is a MySQL binary distribution. It's ready to run, you don't
need to configure it!

To help you a bit, I am now going to create the needed MySQL databases
and start the MySQL server for you. If you run into any trouble, please
consult the MySQL manual, that you can find in the Docs directory.

Installing all prepared tables
040720 9:40:19 ./bin/mysqld: Shutdown Complete


To start mysqld at boot time you have to copy support-files/mysql.server
to the right place for your system

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET A PASSWORD FOR THE MySQL root USER !
This is done with:
./bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'new-password'
./bin/mysqladmin -u root -h localhost.localdomain password 'new-password'
See the manual for more instructions.

NOTE: If you are upgrading from a MySQL <= 3.22.10 you should run
the ./bin/mysql_fix_privilege_tables. Otherwise you will not be
able to use the new GRANT command!

You can start the MySQL daemon with:
cd . ; ./bin/safe_mysqld &

You can test the MySQL daemon with the benchmarks in the 'sql-bench' directory:
cd sql-bench ; run-all-tests

Please report any problems with the ./bin/mysqlbug script!

The latest information about MySQL is available on the web at
http://www.mysql.com
Support MySQL by buying support/licenses at https://order.mysql.com

Starting the mysqld server. You can test that it is up and running
with the command:
./bin/mysqladmin version
[root@localhost mysql-3.23.58-pc-linux-i686]# chown: `mysql': invalid user
Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /software/mysql-3.23.58-pc-linux-i686/data
040720 09:40:19 mysqld ended

Thank you very much.

Hi foo_mulan,
From here, the other side of the world I wish you a lucky experience!

HI! I've posted the response I got when I ran configuration but I do not know what the problem is. What should I do? Thank you.

Sorry, foo_mulan,
The message said you have a binary distribution, not a source which you need to compile it. And while it said this to you, it installed the database for you. Now you have to execute this commands to set up administrative password enterIt already explains that for start the database manager, you have toYou have to see what was your directory when you gave the command because it always refers to it before the commands you have to use to start it. I think the installation is not in the proper place. Can you give me info about your distribution, the mysql package you downloaded and the name of the package for I say to you more precise answers?

So does this mean that it has already installed MySQL for me? Before installing, I saved MySQL in a directory which I made: '/software'. I don't quite get it when you said that the installation is not in the proper place. Where should I put this package then? The MySQL package that I downloaded was: mysql-3.23.58-pc-linux-i686. I was in the MySQL directory when I gave those commands (#./configure..... and #make). What should I do next? Do I still have to run #make or just execute the commands to set up the administrative password? Thank you.

Hi,
What is the sufix of the package? Is .rpm or .tar.gz or what?

Its .tar.gz

Thank you!

Hi,
I'm downloading this package to see what happens. I'll tell you soon!

Hi foo_mulan,
I did it and this package really is a binary distribution. As you computer probably has one mysql manager already running, first enter the commandGo to the directory you unpacked it and follow the instructions in the file INSTALL-BINARY, lines 35-45. Execute each command as specified in this list and you will have mysql running in a known place, which is /usr/local/mysql.

Have fun!

Thank you very much for the reply. From what I read, the instructions did not say to add in the '#make' or '#make install' command, but to create the MySQL group after the tar command and configuration command. Is that true? [This is only my assumption. I'd like to find out if I got it right.] Really sorry for the many questions that you'll have to answer for me today! Linux seems to get more interesting the more I use it...and u are one person that I'd like to thank! Have a great day!

Hi foo_mulan,
You did understood it right. You have downloaded a pre-compiled mysql distribution. All you need is to follow that 11 rules to get your mysql running for you. If you want to get the pleasures of compiling, you have to download the suffix .src.tar.gz in the same ftp site you downloaded your package.

Have a nice day!

Thank you so much for ur help. I've finally installed it. Thanks once again.