---
title: Setting up MySQL
description: Instructions for installing the MySQL connector and configure it to communicate with PingCentral.
component: pingcentral
version: 3.1.1
page_id: pingcentral:pingcentral_for_iam_administrators:pingcentral_installing_configuring/pingcentral_mysql
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingcentral/3.1.1/pingcentral_for_iam_administrators/pingcentral_installing_configuring/pingcentral_mysql.html
revdate: October 9, 2025
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
  example: Example:
  example-2: Example:
  example-3: Example:
---

# Setting up MySQL

Install the MySQL connector and configure it to communicate with PingCentral.

## About this task

PingCentral uses the Java-based H2 relational database management system by default, but you can also use MySQL. To set up MySQL, you must have the privileges required to access the `pingcentral` schema and configure the database.

|   |                                                                                          |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | This topic doesn't provide instructions on setting up or maintaining the MySQL database. |

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
|   | if you choose to migrate from the PingCentral H2 database to a MySQL database, you will lose all of your PingCentral data, including your environments, templates, environments, and promotion history information. Data residing in PingFederate, PingAccess, and other Ping products will not be affected. |

## Steps

1. Locate and download the appropriate MySQL connector.

   For example, you can download the platform independent Java connector from <https://www.mysql.com/downloads/connector/j/>.

2. Place the MySQL connector in the following location: `/<pingcentral_install>/ext-lib/`.

3. Update the `/<pingcentral_install>/conf/application.properties` file to point to the new MySQL database:

   1. Update the datasource URL to your location.

      ### Example:

      ```
      spring.datasource.url=jdbc:mysql://${MYSQL_HOST:localhost}:3306/pingcentral?createDatabaseIfNotExist=true&useUnicode=true&useJDBCCompliantTimezoneShift=true&useLegacyDatetimeCode=false&serverTimezone=UTC&useJvmCharsetConverters=true
      ```

   2. Update the username and password, if necessary.

      ### Example:

      ```
      spring.datasource.username=DataSourceUsername
      spring.datasource.password=DataSourcePassword
      ```

   3. Update the driver class name, if necessary.

      ### Example:

      ```
      spring.datasource.driver-class-name=com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver
      ```

4. Restart PingCentral for the changes to take effect.