I got an error when starting mysql: Unable to lock ./ibdata1, error: 11
when removed the ibdata1 it worked, and I cant understand how it happened. I checked with ps and there was no mysql process. also permissions were ok. Is there a way to check the integrity of this file? this is one of the issue using NFS for MySQL , one quick solution can be found on http://onaxer.com/blog/blog/2010/06/01/innodb-unable-to-lock-ibdata1-error-37/ Did you restart mysql with the wrong user at some point? What were the permissions on the file and the directory it was in? I guess some other process is talking to this resource/file you don't have the right permissions on that file.