mysql connection refused - MySQL connection refused or server not running

root@linuxfix:~/mysql_connection_refused$

mysql connection refused

MySQL connection refused or server not running

Solutions

Prerequisites: Start by updating your system to resolve common issues and ensure the solutions provided below are compatible with your current environment.

check_latest_version && sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Start MySQL service

Start MySQL server:

sudo systemctl start mysql

sudo systemctl status mysql

sudo service mysql start

Check MySQL configuration

Verify MySQL settings:

sudo cat /etc/mysql/my.cnf

mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'port';"

netstat -tlnp | grep 3306

Test connection

Test MySQL connectivity:

mysql -u username -p

telnet localhost 3306

mysqladmin ping

What is mysql connection refused?

MySQL server is not running, not listening on expected port, or connection blocked.

Common scenarios: Service stopped, wrong port, firewall blocking, or binding to localhost only.

Common Causes

MySQL service stopped
Binding to localhost only
Firewall blocking port
Wrong port number
Too many connections

Debugging Tips

ps aux | grep mysql

tail -f /var/log/mysql/error.log

ss -tlnp | grep 3306

Prevention

Monitor MySQL service
Configure auto-start
Set proper bind-address
Regular health checks

Additional Resources

MySQL Documentation

MySQL server administration

mysql database connection service