Mysql password hashing method old vs new

Question

I\'m trying to connect to a mysql server at dreamhost from a php scrip located in a server at slicehost (two different hosting companies). I need to do this so I can transfe

Answer 1

On some conditions you may still be able to set and use a "new hashing algorithm password".
MySQL 4.1+ servers are able to handle both login algorithms. Which one is used is independent from the old-passwords variable. If MySQL finds a 41 character long hash starting with * it uses the new system. And the PASSWORD() function is also able to use both algorithms. If the field mysql.user.Password is wide enough to store 41 characters and the old-passwords variable is 0 it will create a "new" password. The documention for old_passwords says Variable Scope Both so you might be able to change it for your session.
Connect to the MySQL server (with a client that is able to do so despite the global old_passwords=1), e.g. HeidiSQL and try the following:

SET SESSION old_passwords=0;
SELECT @@global.old_passwords,@@session.old_passwords, Length(PASSWORD('abc'));

If it prints 1, 0, 41 (meaning the global old_passwords is on, but for the session it's off and PASSWORD() returned a "new" password) you should be able to set a new password using the new algorithm for your account within the same session.

But if dreamhost really wants to disable the new passwords algorithm the mysql.user.Password field will be less than 41 characters long and there's nothing you can do about it (except nagging them).