Guruhowtos

MySQL stores all its username and password data in a special database named mysql. You can add users to this database and specify the databases to which they will have access with the grant command. The MySQL root or superuser account, which is used to create and delete databases, is the exception. You need to use the mysqladmin command to set your root password. Only two steps are necessary for a brand new MySQL installation.

1. Make sure MySQL is started.
2. Use the mysqladmin command to set the MySQL root password. The syntax is as follows:

[root@tmp bigboy]# mysqladmin -u root password new-password

If you want to change your password later, you will probably have to do a root password recovery.