# Setting up the database (MySQL)

> Set up the Cascade CMS database on MySQL: install the server, adjust its configuration, and import the supplied database.

URL: https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/articles/cascade-administration/installation-and-upgrades/database/mysql.html
category: Cascade Administration
article-type: how-to
content-kind: article
release-availability: all
tags: installation, database
updated: 2026-10-06

## Step 1: Download and install MySQL

If you have an existing MySQL instance that you wish to use, skip ahead to Step 2.

Download and install a [supported version](https://www.hannonhill.com/cascadecms/latest/releases/index.html) of [MySQL](http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/). To verify that MySQL is running, type `mysql -u root` at a command line. You should see something like this:

```xml
Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 5
Server version: 8.0.30 MySQL Community Server - GPL
```

If the command is not recognized, either navigate to the MySQL bin directory and try again or add the MySQL bin directory to your [$PATH](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATH_(variable))).

## Step 2: Edit your MySQL configuration file

> **Note**
>
> **IMPORTANT:** Make sure that your database is configured to use the [InnoDB](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/innodb-storage-engine.html) storage engine.

Edit the `my.ini` (Windows) or `my.cnf` (Linux/*nix) file located in your MySQL environment and change or add the following variables under the `[mysqld]` section:

```xml
max_allowed_packet=16M
key_buffer_size=16M
```

**Note:** these are the minimum required settings. If they are already set to something higher, you can keep the original values.

For additional information regarding these configuration files, please reference [MySQL's documentation](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/option-files.html).

After these changes have been made, **you must restart MySQL** in order for them to take effect.

## Step 3: Import the Cascade CMS database

From a command line, open a MySQL prompt and execute the following commands (replacing 'cascade' with the database name of your choice):

```xml
CREATE DATABASE `cascade`;
ALTER DATABASE `cascade` DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8mb3 COLLATE utf8mb3_unicode_ci;
exit
```

Exit the MySQL prompt.

Download and unzip the default [Cascade CMS database](http://github.com/hannonhill/Cascade-Server-Default-Database/raw/master/cascade_database_mysql.zip).

Import the database by executing a command like the following:

```xml
mysql -u root -p --default-character-set=utf8mb3 cascade < \path\to\file\cascade.sql
```

where 'cascade' is the name of your new database and '\path\to\file\cascade.sql' is the full directory path to the Cascade CMS database file.

Your MySQL database is now configured and ready to be used by Cascade CMS.

> **Note**
>
> Support for default Cascade CMS databases has ended. To upgrade to **Cascade CMS 2026.1** or newer, an intermediate step is required. You must first start **Cascade 2025.2.2** against the imported database and ensure the login screen loads without errors. Only after this verification should you proceed with the upgrade to version 2026.1 or later.