Mysql Service won't start [ERROR] /usr/libexec/mysqld: unknown variable 'set-variable=local-infile=0'

Question

I'm unable to get mysql to run on Redhat, basically parallels power panel attempted an update and sent me an email stating that it failed, stopped the service and can not start it.

mysqld.log states

[ERROR] /usr/libexec/mysqld: unknown variable 'set-variable=local-infile=0'

I'm able to get the service to start again by deleting everything in "/etc/my.cnf" I'm looking at the configuration file but, I'm not entirely sure what it does, from what I've read it deals with some of the security aspects of mysql though so I'm uncomfortable just deleting it and continuing to run the database as is.

Would there be a safer fix for this? or is this acceptable? I'm not as experienced with mysql or linux distros as I'd like to be.

Solution

CHeck your mysql configuration file for the line that is being reported,

set-variable=local-infile=0

It sounds like my.cnf has 'set-variable=local-infile=0' in it and your version doesnt support that parameter.