# Installing MariaDB MaxScale using a tarball
MariaDB MaxScale is also made available as a tarball, which is named like`maxscale-x.y.z.OS.tar.gz` where `x.y.z` is the same as the corresponding version and `OS`\
identifies the operating system, e.g. `maxscale-2.5.6.centos.7.tar.gz`.
In order to use the tarball, the following libraries are required:
* libcurl
* libaio
* OpenSSL
* gnutls
* libatomic
The tarball has been built with the assumption that it will be installed in `/usr/local`.\
However, it is possible to install it in any directory, but in that case MariaDB MaxScale\
must be invoked with a flag.
### Installing as root in `/usr/local`
If you have root access to the system you probably want to install MariaDB MaxScale under\
the user and group `maxscale`.
The required steps are as follows:
```
$ sudo groupadd maxscale
$ sudo useradd -g maxscale maxscale
$ cd /usr/local
$ sudo tar -xzvf maxscale-x.y.z.OS.tar.gz
$ sudo ln -s maxscale-x.y.z.OS maxscale
$ cd maxscale
$ sudo chown -R maxscale var
```
Creating the symbolic link is necessary, since MariaDB MaxScale has been built\
with the assumption that the plugin directory is `/usr/local/maxscale/lib/maxscale`.
The symbolic link also makes it easy to switch between different versions of\
MariaDB MaxScale that have been installed side by side in `/usr/local`;\
just make the symbolic link point to another installation.
In addition, the first time you install MariaDB MaxScale from a tarball\
you need to create the following directories:
```
$ sudo mkdir /var/log/maxscale
$ sudo mkdir /var/lib/maxscale
$ sudo mkdir /var/run/maxscale
$ sudo mkdir /var/cache/maxscale
```
and make `maxscale` the owner of them:
```
$ sudo chown maxscale /var/log/maxscale
$ sudo chown maxscale /var/lib/maxscale
$ sudo chown maxscale /var/run/maxscale
$ sudo chown maxscale /var/cache/maxscale
```
The following step is to create the MariaDB MaxScale configuration file `/etc/maxscale.cnf`.\
The file `etc/maxscale.cnf.template` can be used as a base.\
Please refer to [Configuration Guide](/docs/maxscale/maxscale-archive/archive/mariadb-maxscale-21-06/mariadb-maxscale-21-06-getting-started/mariadb-maxscale-2106-maxscale-2106-mariadb-maxscale-configuration-guide.md) for details.
When the configuration file has been created, MariaDB MaxScale can be started.
```
$ sudo bin/maxscale --user=maxscale -d
```
The `-d` flag causes maxscale *not* to turn itself into a daemon,\
which is adviseable the first time MariaDB MaxScale is started, as it makes it easier to spot problems.
If you want to place the configuration file somewhere else but in `/etc`\
you can invoke MariaDB MaxScale with the `--config` flag,\
for instance, `--config=/usr/local/maxscale/etc/maxscale.cnf`.
Note also that if you want to keep *everything* under `/usr/local/maxscale`\
you can invoke MariaDB MaxScale using the flag `--basedir`.
```
$ sudo bin/maxscale --user=maxscale --basedir=/usr/local/maxscale -d
```
That will cause MariaDB MaxScale to look for its configuration file in`/usr/local/maxscale/etc` and to store all runtime files under `/usr/local/maxscale/var`.
### Installing in any Directory
Enter a directory where you have the right to create a subdirectory. Then do as follows.
```
$ tar -xzvf maxscale-x.y.z.OS.tar.gz
```
The next step is to create the MaxScale configuration file `maxscale-x.y.z/etc/maxscale.cnf`.\
The file `maxscale-x.y.z/etc/maxscale.cnf.template` can be used as a base.\
Please refer to [Configuration Guide](/docs/maxscale/maxscale-archive/archive/mariadb-maxscale-21-06/mariadb-maxscale-21-06-getting-started/mariadb-maxscale-2106-maxscale-2106-mariadb-maxscale-configuration-guide.md) for details.
When the configuration file has been created, MariaDB MaxScale can be started.
```
$ cd maxscale-x.y.z.OS
$ bin/maxscale -d --basedir=.
```
With the flag `--basedir`, MariaDB MaxScale is told where the `lib`, `etc` and `var`\
directories are found. Unless it is specified, MariaDB MaxScale assumes\
the `lib` directory is found in `/usr/local/maxscale`,\
and the `var` and `etc` directories in `/`.
It is also possible to specify the directories and the location of\
the configuration file individually. Invoke MaxScale like
```
$ bin/maxscale --help
```
to find out the appropriate flags.
*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*
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