PHP & MySQL Connection probs

[Anon]

Hi there,

I am able to connect to the MySQL database system through the unix shell using my username and password, I have created my tables and populated them with some data. However, when my PHP scripts try to connect to the database I get the following error:

Warning: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (111)

Can anyone please suggest a solution (the server admin guy has no real idea on how to solve this problem, ARGGHH!) I have searched the Internet for hours and hours - and I find the MySQL manual very sketchy and technical in this area. I have typed the error into google and literally hundreds of websites appear to have the same problem, there must be a simple solution prays for one.

Step-by-step instructions on how to sort this out would be SERIOUSLY appreciated. This is a very time pressured job, and needs to be done ASAP.

Please help me...I'm dying here

[jburfield]

Look in the php.ini file.

You need to tell it the proper location of the mysql.sock file...

It looks as though your php.ini file is pointing at /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock, however, the sock file may actually be somewhere else, such as /tmp/mysql.sock.

In a shell, try this: locate mysql.sock

That will tell you where it is.

-- Jason

[Anon]

Thanks for the prompt reply Jason - you are a lifesaver! I ran that command, and there is a mysql.sock file in the /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock directory, however, there is also one in another directory which is: /home/release/releasethegroove/mysql.sock

what should I look for in the sock files to get it working?

Many thanks.

Simon

[Anon]

I just discovered that both mysql.sock files are empty (0k). Could this be the problem? Also, I gather that the directory that holds the mysql.sock file must allow PHP to access it. How can I make sure that PHP has access rights to the mysql.sock file directory?

[jburfield]

the mysql.sock file is only created when the mysql server is running. If the server is not running, there should not be a mysql.sock file.

That is just the socket to allow connections to mysql I believe.

Have you tried pointing your php.ini file at the /tmp/mysql.sock file instead of the /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock file? That will probably fix your problem I'm betting.

-- Jason