Can't start MySQL command line

[hallett]

I'm trying to get through the Lenz book and can't start the MySQL command Line

I followed the instructions in chapter 2
--------
dave-halletts-computer-2:/usr/local/mysql/bin davehallett$ sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe
Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /usr/local/mysql/data
^Z
[1]+ Stopped sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe
dave-halletts-computer-2:/usr/local/mysql/bin davehallett$ bg
[1]+ sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe &
dave-halletts-computer-2:/usr/local/mysql/bin davehallett$ ps -ax | grep mysql
607 p1 S 0:00.03 /bin/sh /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe
620 p1 S 0:00.17 /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld --basedir=/usr/local/mysql --datadir=/usr/local/mysql/data -
622 p1 S+ 0:00.00 grep mysql
dave-halletts-computer-2:/usr/local/mysql/bin davehallett$ mysql
-bash: mysql: command not found
dave-halletts-computer-2:/usr/local/mysql/bin davehallett$ mysql5
-bash: mysql5: command not found
dave-halletts-computer-2:/usr/local/mysql/bin davehallett$ mysql -u root
-bash: mysql: command not found

--------
I've tried a number of things but can't launch the console so I can't create the databases as described in Chapter 4

When I "ls" in the /usr/local/mysql/bin directory the mysql command is listed.

I'm stuck at this stage - can anyone help?

Thanks
Dave

[HarryR]

the "/usr/local/mysql/bin" directory is not in your PATH environment variable, you can run the MySQL commandline client using one of the following:

# export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/mysql/bin
# mysql

or

# /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql

[harrybauer]

i had the same problem. ive installed the latest build of Mysql version 5 and latest stable version of ruby and gem.

In order for me to access my mysql console, use the following command

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql -u root -p

It will ask you for a password. Note, I did not have a password on the root account so i pressed the enter button on my keyboard.

If you do have a password on the root account and you are not sure what it is, you can reset it by the following command:

/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin -u root password yourpasswordhere

EXAMPLE:

set root account password is hello, use the following command:
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin -u root password hello



hope it helps. harry

[hallett]

thanks - got it working