LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Upgraded Lenny to Squeeze: mythtv can't connect to mysql

The upgrade actually went pretty well, except for what looks like a new "feature" to mysql-server-5.1. But I post here, because the issue seemed to be in "/etc/hosts" file. If it should really be somewhere else, feel free to move it. Specifically, the problem is during configuration of mythtv-database I get the following:

Code:

ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'musem.local' 

(using password: YES)

**********************
There is something I've never quite understood about /etc/hosts. This has been the first two lines of my file since I upgraded to Lenny. My machine name is "musem", of course.
file: /etc/hosts

Code:

127.0.0.1      localhost

127.0.1.1      musem

In order to get this mythtv/mysql issue resolved, I had to change to the following:

Code:

127.0.0.1      localhost

#127.0.1.1      musem

192.168.1.76    musem

The problem is that I don't understand what this means. What potential problems do I have without a "127.0.1.1"? Or could this have been effected by some change to the "users" table in mysql?

NOTE: This mythtv server "musem" is my main machine, and is being remotely accessed by the Linux box next to my TV.