Upgrade mysql 5.5 to mysql 5.6

This would probably make sense on EC2 instance where it comes by default with mysql 5.5

First shutdown the mysql server and then go ahead and move the mysql 5.5 to new folder

sudo mv /var/lib/mysql /var/lib/mysql55

Then grab the tar from Here

Once you download the tar file

sudo tar -xvf yourDownloadedTar.tar
sudo rpm -ivh MySQL-shared-5.6.17-1.el6.x86_64.rpm
sudo rpm -ivh MySQL-client-5.6.17-1.el6.x86_64.rpm
sudo rpm -ivh MySQL-server-5.6.17-1.el6.x86_64.rpm

yup.. that would be it.
Then restart the mysql and it shall be updated