Using the lsst-dev-db Server

lsst-dev-db is the development MySQL database server run by NCSA for LSST DM development work. The CNAMEs lsst-db.ncsa.illinois.edu and lsst10.ncsa.illinois.edu direct to lsst-dev-db.ncsa.illinois.edu to support historical usage of those hostnames.

To get an account, see the Onboarding Checklist.

This page is designed to assist developers in their work with lsst-dev-db:

1. Account Password

2. Authentication Configuration File

Account Password

The lsst-dev-db server does NOT use your NCSA account.

After you receive your initial temporary password, change it as soon as possible as follows.

Set the MYSQL_HISTFILE environment variable to /dev/null (By doing it you will prevent the command with your new password from being saved in clear-text history file.).

export MYSQL_HISTFILE=/dev/null

Then, log into MySQL:

mysql -h lsst-dev-db.ncsa.illinois.edu -u<userName> -p
Password: <type temporary mysql password>

And then, set a new password:

set password = password('theNewPassword');

Authentication Configuration File

Create a db-auth.py configuration file with your mysql host, user, password and mysql port information. This file belongs in $HOME/.lsst/, and must have permissions 600.

config.database.authInfo["auth1"].host = "lsst-dev-db.ncsa.illinois.edu"
config.database.authInfo["auth1"].user = "<user>"
config.database.authInfo["auth1"].password = "<password>"
config.database.authInfo["auth1"].port = 3306

You will also need to create a db-auth.paf file, because the pex_persistence package hasn’t been updated to use Config. This file also belongs in $HOME/.lsst, and requires permissions 600.

database: {
    authInfo: {
       host: lsst-dev-db.ncsa.illinois.edu
       port: 3306
       user: <user>
       password: <password>
    }
}