kevin wrote: ----------------->>>> I'm not sure why you rebooted - this isn't necessary with Linux in most cases. Instead you could just have run rcmysql start. I don't think you need mysql-bench, which are benchmarks for testing speed etc. But I suspect you should install mysql-client ... As root, delete /var/lib/mysql entirely. As root, run: rcmysql start ----------------->>>> Rebooted to watch if it automatically started. Installed bench to test multiple systems with fresh install. mysql, mysql-bench, mysql-client, mysql-devel, and mysql-shared are all installed. Here is the weird thing... MySQL seems to be working. For instance I ran the bench script run-all-tests and it completed without error. As root, I can log onto the mysql using the command mysql mysql (utilizing a .my.cnf file in /root directory yes permissions are restrictive to root only). I have changed the root password from null to a cryptic password. Both by : mysqladmin -uroot -p password 'newone' and -> mysql mysql mysql>UPDATE user SET password=PASSWORD('newone') WHERE user='root'; mysql>FLUSH PRIVILGES; mysql>quit I can do mysqlshow to show there are 2 databases mysql and test. I can mysqlshow mysql to show there are 6 tables in the mysql database columns_priv , db, func, host, tables_priv, and user. So for all purposes it appears that the mysqld daemon is started and running fine. I can shut the server down using rcmysql stop, however and this is the problem that I cant seem to fix, when I do rcmysql start (after running stop) I get the red colored text failed and the second line like: Starting service MySQL failed Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql A look at the <SVRNAME REMOVED>.err log shows it normally starting and ready for connections. The results of stopping mysql, then deleting completely /var/lib/mysql had the following effect: <Begin Screen Capture> <BASH CURSOR REMOVED>rcmysql start Creating MySQL privilege database and starting MySQL... Preparing db table Preparing host table Preparing user table Preparing func table Preparing tables_priv table Preparing columns_priv table Installing all prepared tables PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET A PASSWORD FOR THE MySQL root USER! This is done with: /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root -p password 'new-password' /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root -h <SVRNAME REMOVED> -p password 'new-password' See the manual for more instructions. Please report any problems with the /usr/bin/mysqlbug script! The latest information about MySQL is available on the web at http://www.mysql.com Support MySQL by buying support/licenses at https://order.mysql.com failed <BASH CURSOR REMOVED># Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql <End Screen Capture> The new <SVRNAME REMOVE>.err file shows: 011019 16:56:27 mysqld started /use/sbin/mysqld: read for connections Does any of this point to anything?