Accidentally destroyed some MySQL files used by Akonadi (and thus by dependencies)
 

Hi all,

I hope I posted this correctly here...I'm quite new to Linux, using Kubuntu from the first day I started my new job. Couldn't be happier, although there are some bumps in the road.

Because I needed to build a working database for my work, with actual research data (water parameters such as pH and salinity and such...), I tried using LibreOffice Base for a while, because of previous experience with MS Access. This was a mistake and a waste of time: Base does not (repeat: not) live up to any simple database expectations. Short story: I switched to MySQL, that was yesterday. I still need to learn a lot, but here goes... In order to use the MySQL Workbench, I needed to install MySQL server. I did just that, including dependencies, using Apper. Most of the apps were installed successfully, except mysql server 5.1. After a search through some fora, it was considered wise to attempt installing in a terminal (sudo apt-get install -f)... Things were indeed a bit more powerful here. I actually succeeded in installing some of the other mysql packages here, victory ! However, some of the command lines I found were meant to clean up things in case of faulty installs. I am afraid that in cleaning up some half-installed packages, I also deleted some files that are needed by Akonadi. After a reboot, Kontact/Kmail could not start up anymore, because of a fail of Akonadi and Akonadi-related apps. In the meantime, I use Thunderbird to receive/sent mail. I made a capital mistake and feel quite stupid about it...can anyone help me to recover this ? I'm a bit at a loss about where to start...

Specifications: Kubuntu 11.10, KDE 4.7.4.
Akonadi Server Self Test gives the following errors:
- Database driver not found
- Akonadi control process not registered at D-bus
- Akonadi server process not registered at D-bus
- No resource agents found
- Current Akonadi server error log found
- Previous Akonadi server error log found

When in the terminal (Konsole), I type:

I get:



Thanks in advance for your help !

Let's check what's installed first. Could you please post the results of:

Wow ! Thanks a bunch for replying so fast, klearview. As for your question, here goes:
Awaiting your advice...

Run:
Enter your mysql root password and you'll get taken to mysql shell; then enter:
Now run:
Akonadi Configuration window will open. Go to 'Akonadi Server Configuration' tab;
there untick 'Use internal MySQL server' and in 'External MySQL server' section enter the details of your database: db name - akonadi, host - localhost, user - akonadi, pass - akonadi;
make sure that 'Database driver' dropdown at the top is set to 'MySQL';
press 'Apply' at the bottom;
press 'Start' (or 'Restart').
Should be OK now.

Post the result.

Hi klearview,
Seems that the password I wrote down when first installing MySQL is not accepted...
Amny ideas ? (and thanks for your time...)

To reset MySQL root password do this:

Now kill mysqld:
Find its process ID:
Look up Process ID for 'sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables' and do:
(will be something like 'kill -9 19678')

Start MySQL:
and go back to the previous post.

OK, mysql password changed successfully (check!), then Akonadi configuration and server start:

After one more click on "start", I get:
Furthermore, Akonadi Self Server Test window gives the same errors as posted originally at the beginning of this thread.

Could you post the result of this:

result:

Run:

That should be all. You can reboot after this to be on the safe side - it's not really necessary but it will ensure everything is started.

After that try running 'kcmshell4 kcm_akonadi' again and see what it says.

Installing library for qt4 worked, no problems there...
However, after a reboot the Akonadi Configuration gives me the same

It seems, through my newbie eyes, that the MySQL server cannot connect from the given socket...(whatever that may be...)

^^^
We may have some leftovers from your old Akonadi config. (WARNING - next part will remove all Akonadi resources if executed) To remove it run (as your own user):
Then try starting Akonadi again.

Victory !!!
Although -as expected I reckon- my mail and calendar has disappeared, everything seems to work again ! I'll try and re-configure mail settings.
One more question: do you think/know whether installing MySQL server (so I can use MySQL Workbench) should work now, or is there something I should take into consideration ?
Thank you so much for all your help, klearview, and have a wonderful weekend !

Cheers,
Francesc

MySQL server is already installed and working on your system (Akonadi is using it right now). Any application that requires MySQL server can be now installed.

Thanks again for your sage's advice, klearview. Consider this post [SOLVED]