How to Run MySQL 5.7.13 in Docker: A Quick, Isolated Setup Guide

Previously I experimented with MySQL 5.7.13, but installing another version on a machine that already had MySQL was cumbersome, so I chose Docker containers for a simpler solution.

Running multiple versions of software (JDK, Redis, etc.) on a single host often leads to conflicts and maintenance difficulties; virtual machines solve this but are heavyweight.

Docker containers provide a lightweight, fast‑starting, isolated environment similar to a virtual machine, allowing many independent services on one machine.

For instance, a server already running Redis 2.8 and MySQL 5.6 can test newer versions in separate Docker containers without affecting each other.

(1) Install Docker environment – Docker provides installers for Windows, Linux and macOS.

(2) Pull a base image – For example, obtain an Ubuntu image:

docker pull ubuntu

(3) Start the container – Launch Ubuntu and map host port 3307 to the container’s MySQL port 3306:

After the container starts, you can enter its shell (e.g., [root@container /]#) and perform normal operations.

(4) Copy the MySQL package into the container – Download MySQL 5.7.13 on the host and use Docker’s copy command to transfer it.

(5) Install and run MySQL inside the container – Execute the usual MySQL installation steps in the Ubuntu shell, then start the server and create a remote‑access user (e.g., test / 111111).

(6) Connect from the host – Use a MySQL client on the host with the following credentials: host – Docker‑assigned IP, username – test, password – 111111, port – 3307.

This completes a fully isolated MySQL installation using Docker, illustrating a simple yet powerful use case of container technology.