mysql is giving me this error when I try to access it for the first time.
It's not working for me; I have Parrot OS, which is based on Debian Jessie. The problem started with adding the mysql repository, then the package installation (of mysqlserver etc); after all of that, I'm facing this error. I tried the procedure that you sent but at the last command it's giving me error 2002 which is probably caused by the stop command at the beginning.
I've ran into a similar problem and got it working using this solution.
STEP 1: ADD UNIX AUTHENTICATION PLUGIN TO MARIADB CONFIG
Change the file /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-server.cnf
Add the line below [mysqld] section.
plugin-load-add = auth_socket.so
Restart the server and you should log using
sudo mysql -u root
That's it!
It seems that Mariadb developpers have found a new approach for identifying based on the actual user, so they made an extension that allow you: if you're user1 on Linux and there happen to be a MySQL user named user1 then he will be logged in without a password based on the socket file (the last sentence is just my understanding
I could be wrong or imprecise).
The bottom line you're good with the first step unless want the old identification behavior then move to step2 :
STEP 2: CHANGE TO STANDARD AUTHENTICATION
Run the following commands
use mysql;
update user set plugin='' where User='root';
flush privileges;
exit
