[Koha] Difficulties getting 17.05.01 to talk with MariaDB under Mint 18.1

[Tim Young]

Hi,

This sounds like it is because of an odd "feature" of mysql which is not 
always present.

This page: 
https://askubuntu.com/questions/766334/cant-login-as-mysql-user-root-from-normal-user-account-in-ubuntu-16-04

with the answer from "Todor", explains that mysql will change over to 
using an auth_socket "plugin."  So, instead of using password 
authentication, part of the permission is blocked by unix file-level 
permissions.

The simple solution:

    sudo mysql -u root
    update mysql.user set plugin = 'mysql_native_password' where User='root';
    FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Then you should be able to connect up as root even if you are not a root 
user.

After that, you should be able to run the script.

     - Tim

On 6/29/2017 10:10 AM, C.J.S. Hayward wrote:
> I posted https://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=18852 and
> Katrin encouraged me to post to the list where it might get more attention.
>
> My bug description, very lightly reformatted, is:
>
> As of 17.05.01, I was told there were reports of successful
> installations. However, I have not been able to reproduce such.
>
> I had earlier made a couple of attempts to add Koha to a multipurpose
> appliance, and that remains my end goal. However, when I tried to back
> up, I saw the same issue verbatim.
>
> What I have done today was:
>
> Download a fresh Linux Mint 18.1 ISO.
>
> Build a VirtualBox VM with the ISO, with mostly default features and
> with third-party addons, and also enabling auto-login, but in general
> intended to be a plain vanilla install.
>
> Rebooted; installed Chrome and touched /etc/sudoers, ran "aptitude
> update"; ran "aptitude upgrade", installed MariaDB, and rebooted
> again.
>
> Followed the steps, including a couple of a2enmod enablings, and
> created a virtual site.
>
> I was able to edit passwords in /etc/koha/.../koha-conf.xml, and enter
> the web setup wizard.
>
> However, I experienced identical output from the installer: at a
> certain point, it says:
>
>
> Software error:
>
> DBIx::Class::Storage::DBI::catch {...} (): DBI Connection failed:
> Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' at
> /usr/share/perl5/DBIx/Class/Storage/DBI.pm line 1492. at
> /usr/share/koha/lib/Koha/Database.pm line 100
>
> For help, please send mail to the webmaster ([no address given]),
> giving this error message and the time and date of the error.
>
>
> I am having difficulties with MariaDB and my difficulties may be
> contributing to the problem.
>
> My understanding, as inherited from MySQL, is that "mysql -uroot -p",
> for any account that will run it, will check a password and, if you
> have root's password set, will let you into the MySQL root command
> line if and only if you type the password exactly.
>
> The behavior I have observed is that as root "mysql -uroot" does not
> prompt for a password, but just logs you in, and "mysql -uroot -p"
> prompts for a password, but will accept any password, the empty
> password included. However, from an unprivileged account, "mysql
> -uroot -p" prompts for a password, but none of the passwords I've
> tried have worked; I've tried and used values as set in my customized
> koha-conf.xml, and every single password is rejected.
>
> I believe that this command line behavior is a symptom of the same
> problem quoted above: permission is being denied for user
> 'root'@'localhost' where the action in question would be permitted for
> any account with UID 0 and no account with any other UID.
>
> Again, this is after the 17.05.01 release, where it was reported to me
> that some people have had success. The system setup shows a couple of
> my personal idiosyncracies, but is meant to be awfully close to a
> procedure of "Step 1: Create a new Linux Mint VM. Step 2: Install
> Koha." The behavior is the same between the fresh new VM running
> 17.05.01, and an "everything but the kitchen sink" multitool of an
> appliance.
>
> What can I do to let Koha talk to MariaDB as 'root'@'localhost'?
>
>
> Thanks,
>