Accessing the MySQL database from Python

The Python developer creates the MySQLdb module, which provides a utility to interact and manage the database from a Python script. This module can be installed using Python's pip, or with an operating system package manager, such as yum or apt.

To install the package, use the following command:

yum install MySQL-python

Verify the installation as follows:

[root@AutomationServer ~]# python
Python 2.7.5 (default, Aug  4 2017, 00:39:18) 
[GCC 4.8.5 20150623 (Red Hat 4.8.5-16)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import MySQLdb
>>>

Since the module has imported without any errors, we know that the Python module has successfully installed.

We will now access the database through the console and create a simple database called TestingPython, with one table inside it. We will then connect to it from Python:

[root@AutomationServer ~]# mysql -u root -p
Enter password: EnterpriseAutomation
Welcome...