# Create a MySQL DSN on Windows

This section describes how to create a MySQL data source name (DSN), so that Media Server can connect to your database. You must complete these steps on every Media Server host.

TIP: Create the DSN on the same machine as Media Server. If your Media Server is running on Linux, see Create a MySQL DSN on Linux.

To create a MySQL DSN on Windows

1. Install the MySQL ODBC Driver (Connector/ODBC).
2. Open the ODBC Data Sources program (Windows Control Panel > Administrative Tools > ODBC Data Sources 64-bit).

3. In the User DSN or System DSN tab, click Add.... (System DSNs are available to all users. If you create a User DSN, check which user the Media Server service is running as).

   The Create New Data Source dialog box opens.

4. In the list, select the MySQL ODBC Unicode driver and click Finish.

   The MySQL Connector/ODBC Data Source Configuration dialog box opens.

5. Type the following information:

   Data Source Name | A name for the new data source. You will configure Media Server to use this data source name.
   Description | An optional description for the data source.
   TCP/IP Server | The IP address or hostname of the database server.
   Port | The database server port.
   User | The user name of the user you created for Media Server.
   Password | The password of the user you created for Media Server.
   Database | The name of the database that you created.

6. If you are using MySQL ODBC Driver version 5.3.11, 5.3.12, or 8.0.12 to 8.0.18, complete the following steps. Do not select the Prepare statements on the client option for other driver versions.

   1. Click Details >> and then click the Misc tab.

   2. Select the Prepare statements on the client check box.

7. Click Test to test the connection.

   A dialog box opens, describing the result of the test. If the connection failed, use the information in the message to resolve any issues.

8. Click OK to close the MySQL Connector/ODBC Data Source Configuration dialog box.

9. Click OK to close the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog box.

   You can now configure Media Server to connect to the database (see Configure Media Server).

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