Question

MySQL error even after changing root password via command line and WHM (new cPanel droplet)

I have new droplets running cPanel from the marketplace, and any time I try to do anything that requires MySQL I get the following error:

ER_ACCESS_DENIED_ERROR (Access denied for user ‘root’@‘localhost’ (using password: YES))

I’ve tried setting the root MySQL password via command line and WHM, but to no avail. Any ideas? I’m relatively new to DO…

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alexdo • March 4, 2020
Accepted Answer

Hello, @paulJellyfish

Can you please check if you have this file present on your server. In ssh type:

cat /root/.my.cnf

The file should contain the MySQL root password by default. If this one is not present you can of course create it manually.

You need to create the following file - my.cnf and this can be stored in your root home directory. You can create this file and access it using your favorite text edit

vim ~/my.cnf

and put the following content:

[client]
user=root
password=TheMySQLpassword

Once the file is present you should be able to access MySQL without typing the password down and simply run: mysql in the command line.

This should help you to know how to reset MySQL root password via WHM:

  1. Login to WHM as a root user.
  2. From there select “SQL Services”.
  3. Then click on the button “MySQL Root Password”.
  4. Now enter the new password and click on “Change Password” button.

Hope this helps!

Regards, Alex