# Databases and OpenInteract

OpenInteract is designed to work with one or more relational database systems (RDBMS). Thanks to SPOPS, it can be flexible about which one it uses. But you still need to do some initial setup work to ensure your database is prepared.

This document describes the different procedures necessary to use OpenInteract with the databases it supports. It does not cover setting up the various RDBMS packages themselves and assumes you have a database server up and running.

In the discussion below we use a few variables. These will, of course, depend on your DBMS.

- `$ADMINUSER`: A user with sufficient administrative rights to create a database
- `$ADMINPASSWORD`: The password for `$ADMINUSER`
- `$DBNAME`: The name you give your database.
- `$WEBUSER`: The user that is going to access this database via OpenInteract. This user must be able to create and drop tables as well as modify data within those tables.
- `$WEBPASSWORD`: The password for `$WEBUSER`

The following also assumes that the command-line utilities executed (e.g., 'mysql', 'psql', 'isql') are installed and on your PATH. If not, setup your PATH so they're accessible for executing or ask your friendly local DBA to do this for you.

# MySQL

To create a database, run the following command:

`$ mysqladmin --user=$ADMINUSER --password=$ADMINPASSWORD create $DBNAME`

Once the database is created, ensure that the non-administrative user you've chosen to use with OpenInteract has full access to it. The following will create a new user with access to your database:

     $ mysql --user=$ADMINUSER --password=$ADMINPASSWORD $DBNAME
     mysql> GRANT ALL ON $DBNAME.* TO $WEBUSER@localhost
     mysql> IDENTIFIED BY '$WEBPASSWORD'\g

You probably also need to give this user permission to use the 'mysql' database:

     mysql> GRANT SELECT ON mysql.* TO $WEBUSER@localhost
     mysql> IDENTIFIED BY '$WEBPASSWORD'\g

Once you're done with these statements, leave the mysql shell and reload the grant tables:

     $ mysqladmin --user=$ADMINUSER --password=$ADMINPASSWORD reload

# PostgreSQL

To create a database, run the following command:

      $ createdb $DBNAME

Once you've created the database, you can create a user:

      $ psql $DBNAME
      psql> create user $WEBUSER
      psql> with password '$WEBPASSWORD' nocreatedb nocreateuser\g

# Sybase ASE

(coming soon)

# Sybase ASA

(coming soon)

# MS SQL Server

(coming soon)