How to set the default character-set?

Question

I want to create a new db in mysql. I set utf8 as the default-character-set, but when I attempted to restart the db, mysql failed to restart and posted the following prompt:

Answer 1

I had a similar problem. The answer, as EO2 pointed out, is that default-character-set is deprecated in 5.5. You should use instead:

character-set-server = utf8

BTW, it's better if answers are answered as answers, not comments... ;-)