Ubuntu – Postfix and MySQL configuration

Backup all your /var/lib/mysql/* directories, then remove /var/lib/mysql/mysql and run

mysql_installdb

This will create a fresh mysql database and allow your server to start. Then the first thing to do will be to run mysql_upgrade in order to migrate your databaes.

Looks like PHP won't able to connect to MySQL dispute which http server you use and the way you ling php to http server.

First, check if your MySQL is running and listen at all (you may forget to run it). Simply run mysql from CLI, and see if it connects. You may need to use -h host key to point mysql client to right host.

Then, try to run the simplest script (like

<?php
$link = mysql_connect('hostname', 'mysql_user', 'mysql_password');
if (!$link) {
    die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo 'Connected successfully';
mysql_close($link);
?>

so you'll see what's the error. If your MySQL listen on localhost (127.0.0.1), then use 'localhost' as hostname ('hostname' in the example), if it listen in socket, then use socket path (something like ':/tmp/mysql').

Good luck!