Installing MySQL on Ubuntu

Go to Terminal Window and run sudo apt-get install mysql-server libapache2-mod-auth-mysql php5-mysql

You will be asked to enter your ROOT password. The screen looks like this
When the installation is complete, run mysql -u root -p

Enter root password when prompted.
If no error message is displayed, MySQL installation is successful.

source: http://ubuntuexperiment.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/installing-apache-php-mysql/