Question: I installed MySQL from:

<http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html#macosx-dmg>

I am on OS X 10.5.8. I open Terminal and do:

```
cd /usr/local/bin

```

then:

```
mysql -u root

```

I get the following error:

```
ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/tmp/mysql.sock' (2)

```

I have spent the last 2 hours scouring sites looking for an answer that makes sense. This is a brand new laptop. I am at a loss. Here is my .bash\_profile:

```
export PYTHONPATH=/Users/blwatson/pythonpath;/Users/blwatson/pythonpath/bin:$PYTHONPATH

# Setting PATH for MacPython 2.6
# The orginal version is saved in .bash_profile.pysave
PATH="/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/bin:${PATH}"
export PATH
export

PATH=/usr/local/mysql/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/bin:/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/X11/bin

```

I am at a loss. The install order was:

1) Django
2) Python 2.6
3) MySQL 5

Answer: 
Check that the socket exists at /tmp/mysql.sock. If not, start mysql

```
sudo /usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqld_safe

```

Then try logging into the mysql client

```
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql -u root

```
Did you start MySQL?