What do I do if I don't have root access to do a gem install mysql?

Question

Every time I run rake db:create, I get the notice that I have to run "sudo gem install mysql", but I do not have root access and the tech support is telling me that they cannot do that for me since it is on a shared server.

Is there any work around about this? I do not have the option of changing hosting as of right now.

Answer 1

Looks like it can't find the MySQL libraries to build the native extension. You can find out where the libs and includes are installed by running

mysql_config --libs --include

which will produce something like

-rdynamic -L/usr/local/mysql/lib -lmysqlclient -lz -lcrypt -lnsl -lm -lmygcc
-I/usr/local/mysql/include

Then with the -L option(location of the mysql libraries) and the -I option(location of the mysql include files) you can install the gem like this

gem install mysql -- --with-mysql-include=/usr/local/mysql/include --with-mysql-lib=/usr/local/mysql/lib

Obviously the paths for your install will be different, but hopefully you get the idea.

Answer 2

If you are not root, your gems become installed in your home dir - if you run your application under your username, the gems become loaded from your .gems directory.

Answer 3

Can't you just run

gem install mysql

?

They should get installed in your user's directory. If not, ask your host again. Mine will install any common gem if asked nicely.