Not prompted to input the root password when installing mariadb-server on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

mysql sql mariadb

14,947

Solution 1

Mariadb package doesn't offer a configuration wizard during installation on Ubuntu 16.04.

Use the below command to have a mysql shell

sudo mysql -uroot

Solution 2

Try sudo mysql -u root. You should be able to login this way.

14,947

user6133116

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

user6133116 over 1 year
I just had a fresh install on my pc the Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. When I tried to install MariaDB by typing:
```
sudo apt-get install mariadb-server
```
The installation went smoothly but during the process I was not prompted to input the password for the mysql root account. After the installation I was unable to log into MariaDB (mysql -u root -p) and it showed the error message:
```
ERROR 1698 Access denied for user 'root'
```
Everything was a fresh install. The entries in /etc/apt/sources.list were checked and all major components were enabled properly.

What seems to be the problem?
user6133116 almost 8 years

I tried it and it worked. Thanks. But I remember earlier when I installed mariadb I was prompted to set the root password. Since when was it changed?
David Foerster almost 8 years

@user6133116: That contradicts the statement in your question. Which one is it. Could you please clarify?
user6133116 almost 8 years

@DavidFoerster I'm sorry, but I really don't see any contradiction. I think you might not have got the idea of my question.
David Foerster almost 8 years

“during the process [of the installation] I was not prompted to input the password for the mysql root account” (taken from your question, highlight by me) vs. “when I installed mariadb I was prompted to set the root password” (taken from your comment)
user6133116 almost 8 years

@DavidFoerster "But I remember EARLIER when I installed mariadb I was prompted to set the root password. Since when was it changed?" Please pay attention to the word 'earlier' which I meant "some time ago, not this time". I was prompted to set the password for the database root account before, but not this time during this fresh install, hence the question posted in here.
user6133116 almost 8 years

It could also be some confusion made by my usage of the English language, as I'm not an English native speaker. If that's the case, I'm sorry.
soufrk over 7 years

Worked for MariaDB version 10.0.25 on Ubuntu 15.10.
Matthew Setter over 3 years

This doesn't work for MariaDB 10.3.22 on Ubuntu 20.04.