How to Install Percona Toolkit for MySQL on Linux Server

Introduction

Percona Toolkit is a collection of advanced command-line tools that help MySQL and Percona Server users perform complex and high-performance database management tasks. It is widely used for automation, query optimisation, and database maintenance.

Uses of Percona Toolkit

Percona Toolkit is widely used for:

– Performing online schema changes without downtime.

– Identifying slow queries and optimizing database performance.

– Syncing and verifying data between MySQL servers.

– Monitoring replication lag and fixing inconsistencies.

– Automating database maintenance tasks to reduce manual effort.

Here’s a quick guide to install Percona Toolkit on a Linux server.

Prerequisites

Before installing Percona Toolkit, you need to ensure that:

– You have a Linux-based server (such as CentOS, RHEL, or Ubuntu).

– You have root or sudo privileges to install packages.

– MySQL or MariaDB is already installed on your system.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Install Percona Repository

To install Percona Toolkit, first, add the Percona repository by running: 

For Ubuntu/Debian, download the repository package using curl:

curl -O https://repo.percona.com/apt/percona-release_latest.generic_all.deb

Once downloaded, install the package and update the repository list:

dpkg -i percona-release_latest.generic_all.deb 

apt update 

For RHEL/CentOS, run:

yum install https://repo.percona.com/yum/percona-release-latest.noarch.rpm

This command downloads and installs the Percona repository, which contains Percona Server for MySQL, Percona Toolkit, and other useful database tools.

Step 2: Enable Percona Tools Repository

Next, enable the tools repository to fetch the correct package:

percona-release enable tools

Step 3: Install Percona Toolkit

Now, install Percona Toolkit using the package manager:

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install percona-toolkit

For RHEL/CentOS:

yum install percona-toolkit

This will install the Percona Toolkit along with all necessary dependencies.

Step 4: Verify Installation

To confirm that Percona Toolkit has been installed correctly, check the version of one of its core tools:

pt-online-schema-change --version

If the installation is successful, you should see output displaying the installed version.

Conclusion

Percona Toolkit is an essential set of tools for MySQL and MariaDB administrators. It simplifies complex database management tasks, improves performance, and helps maintain data integrity. By following this guide, you have successfully installed Percona Toolkit on your server, making it easier to handle various database operations efficiently.

If you encounter any issues feel free to contact us. We provide managed services for Linux servers, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of server tools like Percona Toolkit.