text: where does mysql store its database? in any operating system, but especially linux, where does mysql store all the databases? if in linux, which directory is the data stored in? i want to create a database server but want to make sure that i get a separate hard drive for all the mysql data. therefore, if i know exactly where the data is stored, i can store that directory on a separate (bigger) hard drive. mysql keep its data in /var/lib/mysql folder incase you feel to reinstall the mysql you can allways copy this files using cp -rvp * to some folder keeping its permissions same and then you can reinstall mysql and move these files to  /var/lib/mysql folder.  any more help buzz me at kshounish@yahoo.com  kshounish