Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

Question

I am getting the following error when I try to connect to mysql:

Can\'t connect to local MySQL server through socket \'/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock\' (2)<

Answer 1

One way to reproduce this error: If you meant to connect to a foreign server but instead connect to the non existent local one:

eric@dev ~ $ mysql -u dev -p
Enter password:
ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through 
socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)
eric@dev ~ $

So you have to specify the host like this:

eric@dev ~ $ mysql --host=yourdb.yourserver.com -u dev -p
Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 235
Server version: 5.6.19 MySQL Community Server (GPL)

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

mysql> show databases;
+-------------------------+
| Database                |
+-------------------------+
| information_schema      |
| mysql                   |
| performance_schema      |
+-------------------------+
3 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> exit
Bye
eric@dev ~ $