Sorry people ignore all of this I'm just ignorant of the subtleties of MySQL Not sure how to delete a post or if that has to be done by a moderator

OK folks I'm baffled.

I am trying to install MySQL server 4.1.14 on a machine running Red Hat Enterprise WS3. I have followed the instructions in the manual as far as trying to start the server in what seems to be some sort of safe mode although the manual isn't clear and got this:

[root@pat-pc3076 root]# /usr/bin/mysqld_safe --user=mysql &
[1] 7594
[root@pat-pc3076 root]# Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql
STOPPING server from pid file /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid
051014 14:26:41 mysqld ended

then nothing so I hit enter and got

[1]+ Done /usr/bin/mysqld_safe --user=mysql

Firstly can someone explain what this means?
Following this I tried to run mysqld without the safe bit and got the following:

[root@pat-pc3076 root]# /usr/sbin/mysqld --user=mysql
051014 14:31:03 InnoDB: Started; log sequence number 0 43902
/usr/sbin/mysqld: ready for connections.
Version: '4.1.14-standard' socket: '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' port: 3306 MySQL Community Edition - Standard (GPL)

Then nothing again the cursor just sits there, there is no command prompt. So I opened another terminal and used ps -e | grep mysqld to see if the server was running which gives the following:

7682 pts/1 00:00:00 mysqld

Is this normal? I was expecting the command prompt to reappear so I could continue with the next set of commands in the manual. I'm completely new to this so this could be what is supposed to happen and I'm just being ignorant.
If I'm not ignorant then what should I be doing? All suggestions greatfully recieved.

When you entered this command:
,
you started the mysql daemon as a background process (that's what the ampersand (&) means: run in background. You will get your command line prompt back; not the mysql prompt).

This says
that mysqld, the mysql daemon, is running as a background process.

So far, all is normal, no problems.

Now what? From the command prompt in a term window, just type 'mysql' (without quotes) and press enter, and you should have the mysql prompt.

As far as you being ignorant, I must categorically say NO, you are not ignorant, just illiterate, in so far as mysql is concerned.

What's the difference?
Illiterate - don't know because you haven't had the opportunity to learn, yet. Ignorant - don't know, and don't want to know. I have my mind made up; don't tell me any facts to contradict me.

One of the best ways to learn something new, is to ask questions. Those who know the answer (or at least think they know the answer) can give you answers in the hope that you will learn. And, in your own time, pass that knowledge on to someone else.