[plug] mysql installation

[Jim Householder]

Dave Dartnall wrote:
> I note a recent request for assistance from Jim Householder re a mysql 
> installation in Mandrake 10. I'm having exactly the same problems...
> 
> The mysql installation went well, mysql_install_db was run as root (as 
> suggested by Leon Kyneur), I can 'USE test' and create tables in this 
> database, populate and retrieve data from them etc but...
> 	mysql> SHOW DATABASES;  returns 'test' only, no reference to mysql or tmp.
> 	mysql> CREATE DATABASE records; returns:
> 		ERROR 1044: Access denied for user : '@localhost' to database 'records
> 	$ mysqladmin -u root password 'rootpassword' returns
> 		mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed
> 		Error: access denied for user 'root at localhost' (Using Password: NO)
> 		(this also was run as root with similar results)
> 	Reference is made in the documentation of 'syntax.txt' which I don't have.
> I just can't see how to get administrator privileges at server level...
<snip> 
> Did you have any success  Jim, and if so could you or any other Plugger give 
> me a lead on where to go from here please.
> 
> regards
> Dave Dartnall
> 
> 

I managed to get mine working by starting over from scratch.  I had dug my hole too deep.  The key was (a last resort!) studying the documentation (sigh).  
  /usr/share/doc/MySQL-4.0.18/manual.html
After installing the RPMs, section 2.4.2 contains unix post-installation procedures.  If you are installing from RPMs, do not try to execute mysql_install_db.  It has already been done.

'mysql -u root password' tries to open a database named 'password' which does not exist.

If you are not user 'root' or 'mysql', you will not see the mysql database, only test.

Initially no passwords are set.  
> mysql -u root mysql
should give you access to the 'mysql' database which stores the usernamess & privileges

> mysql -u root -p mysql
does the same, but asks for a password before proceeding.

HTH
Jim