How to start MySQL server from command line on Mac OS Lion?

I installed mySQL on my Mac. Beside starting the SQL server with mySQL.prefPane tool installed in System Preferences, I want to know the instructions to start from command-line. I do as follows:

After

su root

I start the mySQL server by command-line, but it produces an error as below:

sh-3.2# /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld

111028 16:57:43 [Warning] Setting lower_case_table_names=2 because file system for /usr/local/mysql-5.5.17-osx10.6-x86_64/data/ is case insensitive

111028 16:57:43 [ERROR] Fatal error: Please read "Security" section of the manual to find out how to run mysqld as root!

111028 16:57:43 [ERROR] Aborting

111028 16:57:43 [Note] /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld: Shutdown complete

14 Answers

Simply:

mysql.server start

mysql.server stop

mysql.server restart

Try /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe

Example:

shell> sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe (Enter your password, if necessary) (Press Control-Z) shell> bg (Press Control-D or enter "exit" to exit the shell) 

You can also add these to your bash startup scripts:

export MYSQL_HOME=/usr/local/mysql alias start_mysql='sudo $MYSQL_HOME/bin/mysqld_safe &' alias stop_mysql='sudo $MYSQL_HOME/bin/mysqladmin shutdown' 

I like the aliases too ... however, I've had issues with MySQLCOM for start ... it fails silently ... My workaround is akin to the others ... ~/.bash_aliases

alias mysqlstart='sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start' alias mysqlstop='sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server stop' 

As this helpful article states: On OS X to start/stop MySQL from the command line:

sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server start sudo /usr/local/mysql/support-files/mysql.server stop 

On Linux start/stop from the command line:

/etc/init.d/mysqld start /etc/init.d/mysqld stop /etc/init.d/mysqld restart 

Some Linux flavours offer the service command too

# service mysqld start # service mysqld stop # service mysqld restart 

or

 # service mysql start # service mysql stop # service mysql restart 

If you installed it with homebrew, the binary will be somewhere like

/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.6.10/bin/mysqld 

which means you can start it with

/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.6.10/support-files/mysql.server start 

and stop it with

/usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.6.10/support-files/mysql.server stop 

Edit: As Jacob Raccuia mentioned, make sure you put the appropriate version of MySQL in the path.

Maybe your mysql-server didn't start.

You can try

/usr/local/bin/mysql.server start 

sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM start sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM stop 

make alias in .bash_profile

alias start_mysql="/Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM start" alias stop_mysql="/Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/MySQLCOM stop" 

and if you are trying to run as root use following safe mode

sudo ./bin/mysqld_safe 

if you are still having issues starting, a recommended read: mysql5.58 unstart server in mac os 10.6.5

For me this solution worked on mac Sierra OS:

sudo /usr/local/bin/mysql.server start Starting MySQL SUCCESS! 

If it's installed with homebrew try just typing down mysql.server in terminal and that should be it. AFAIK it executable will be under /usr/local/bin/mysql.server.

If not you can always run following "locate mysql.server" which will tell you where to find such file.

My MySQL is installed via homebrew on OS X ElCaptain. What fixed it was running

brew doctor

• which suggested that I run

sudo chown -R $(whoami):admin /usr/local

Then:

brew update mysql.server start 

mysql is now running

If you have MySQL installed through Homebrew these commands will help you:

# For starting launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist # For stoping launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist 

MySql server startup error 'The server quit without updating PID file '

if you have installed mysql from homebrew

close mysql server from preferences of mac

ps ax | grep mysql #kill all the mysql process running sudo kill -9 pid which mysql /usr/local/bin/mysql Admins-MacBook-Pro:bin username$ sudo mysql.server start Starting MySQL . SUCCESS! Admins-MacBook-Pro:bin username$ which mysql /usr/local/bin/mysql Admins-MacBook-Pro:bin username$ ps ax | grep mysql 54916 s005 S 0:00.02 /bin/sh /usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1/bin/mysqld_safe --datadir=/usr/local/var/mysql --pid-file=/usr/local/var/mysql/Admins-MacBook-Pro.local.pid 55012 s005 S 0:00.40 /usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1/bin/mysqld --basedir=/usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1 --datadir=/usr/local/var/mysql --plugin-dir=/usr/local/Cellar/mysql@5.7/5.7.27_1/lib/plugin --user=mysql --log-error=Admins-MacBook-Pro.local.err --pid-file=/usr/local/var/mysql/Admins-MacBook-Pro.local.pid 55081 s005 S+ 0:00.00 grep mysql 

On mac Big Sur and MySQL 5.7, I needed to stop/start with:

sudo launchctl load -F /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

and

sudo launchctl unload -F /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.oss.mysql.mysqld.plist

This answer came from

111028 16:57:43 [ERROR] Fatal error: Please read "Security" section of the manual to find out how to run mysqld as root! 

Have you set a root password for your mysql installation? This is different to your sudo root password. Try /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql_secure_installation