Can't restore MySQL root privileges

July 3, 2015 12k views
MySQL LAMP Stack Linux Commands Ubuntu
fbirastreamento
By:
fbirastreamento

Hello everyone!

I manage a droplet on DigitalOcean running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (GNU Linux 3.2.0-24-virtual i686) and need to run some MySQL Events which requires root privileges that I don't have on my user. In first place, I didn't create the droplet and don't know if the "root" account even exists. But even so, I am trying to change the root password.

I tried to follow some steps mentioned in many different places in the community, as here and here and in this tutorial too, but no results. The problem is: in every try, some command are not present on my ubuntu distro.

For example, the command returns:

root@droplet:~# sudo mysqld --skip-grant-tables &
[1] 5097
root@droplet:~# sudo: mysqld: command not found

root@droplet:~# sudo mysqladmin password 123newpass
sudo: mysqladmin: command not found

root@droplet:~# sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
[1] 5948
root@droplet:~# sudo: mysql_safe: command not found

Just to inform, the command "mysql" works fine. And to stop/start my MySQL and Apache I use the following command:

root@droplet:~# /opt/lampp/lampp start

How can I fix it? What should I do to give root privileges?

1 comment
  • huynhnangit July 17, 2015

    I think you should check where mysql is: whereis mysql
    or whereis mysql_safe or locate all mysql: locate mysql

Log In to Comment
2 Answers
sierracircle July 3, 2015

I have had to do this once or twice and I remember it being a lot of frustrating tinkering until if finally worked.

Here is what I have in my notes. This may or may not be helpful to you:

Stop your MySQL service

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

Start your MySQL with privileges

/usr/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables

Connect to mysql DB with your root user. password is: mysql

 /usr/bin/mysql -uroot -p

Update root privileges

update user set Select_priv='Y', Insert_priv='Y',Update_priv='Y',Delete_priv='Y', Create_priv='Y',Drop_priv='Y',Reload_priv='Y',Shutdown_priv='Y', Process_priv='Y',File_priv='Y',Grant_priv='Y',References_priv='Y', Index_priv='Y',Alter_priv='Y',Show_db_priv='Y',Super_priv='Y', Create_tmp_table_priv='Y',Lock_tables_priv='Y',Execute_priv='Y', Repl_slave_priv='Y',Repl_client_priv='Y',Create_view_priv='Y', Show_view_priv='Y',Create_routine_priv='Y',Alter_routine_priv='Y', Create_user_priv='Y',Event_priv='Y',Trigger_priv='Y' where User='mas_web';

After that, you just need to stop the MySQL service and start again.

Reply
fbirastreamento July 4, 2015

Thank you for your support.

Same problem trying these steps.

  • The command sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop returns command not found. But OK, I can stop mysql using /opt/lampp/lampp stop.
  • The commands /usr/bin/mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables and /usr/bin/mysql -uroot -p returns No such file or directory.

My big problem is not about what command to execute, is about what the hell they don't work.

Reply
Have another answer? Share your knowledge.

Related Questions