在安装好了MySQL之后，使用了新的配置文件后，MySQL服务器可以成功启动，但在登陆的时候出现了ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket，即无法通过socket连接到mysql服务器，同时提供了socket文件的位置。下面是这个问题的描述与解决办法。

一、故障现象

在登录mysql数据库时报错为如下所示：

 ~]# mysql -uroot -p
Enter password:
ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/application/mysql5.1.72/tmp/mysql.sock' (2)


二、故障分析

#查看mysql实例的状态
~]# netstat -tunp  | grep 3306
tcp        0      0 :::3306                     :::*                        LISTEN      13001/mysqld
#查看my.cnf关于socket的配置
~]# more /etc/my.cnf |grep sock
 ~]# more /etc/my.cnf |grep sock
socket          = /application/mysql5.1.72/tmp/mysql.sock

#由上可知my.cnf中定义的为/tmp目录下，而错误提示为/application/mysql5.1.72/tmp/mysql.sock目录下
#也就是说mysqld已经声称了正确的sock文件，但客户端连接还是从初始目录去找sock文件


三、解决方法

先停止mysql服务器
~]# /etc/init.d/mysqld stop
Shutting down MySQL.[  OK  ]
#修改my.cnf，如下
~]# vi /etc/my.cnf
[mysql]
no-auto-rehash
socket = /application/mysql5.1.72/tmp/mysql.sock  #添加该行
#重启mysql服务器
~]# service mysqld start
Starting MySQL..[  OK  ]
#再次连接正常

 ~]# mysql -uroot -p
Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 3
Server version: 5.1.72 Source distribution

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参考自网友文章，本文由自己总结。