Portal upgrade fails due to mysql being unable to start

Products

• Network Observability
• CA Performance Management

Issue/Introduction

Install logs show the failure is due to mysql being unable to start, however permissions and ownership of mysql and related files seems correct.

journalctl and systemctl show just messages relating to: The server quit without updating PID file

Environment

24.3.x+

Cause

When asked if you want to change the MySQL owner in the Portal installer, an invalid user was chosen.

 

As the mysql process will not be running, you can use a "functrace" call to grab some details:

bash -x -o functrace /opt/CA/MySql/bin/mysqld_safe --datadir=/opt/CA/MySql/data --pid-file=/opt/CA/MySql/data/<hostname>.pid

Note: You will need to alter the pathing of the calls if you chose to install in a non default path.  You will also need to change <hostname>  to the hostname of the system.

 

Within the logging you will see something like the below:

-basedir=/opt/CA/MySql --datadir=/opt/CA/MySql/data --plugin-dir=/opt/CA/MySql/lib/plugin --user=netqos --log-error=<hostname>.err --open-files-limit=5000 --pid-file=/opt/CA/MySql/data/<hostname>.pid --socket=/tmp/mysql.sock --port=3306

 

Take note of the user listed.  In this case, we incorrectly specified the user named netqos when asked in the installer instead of just hitting enter and allowing the default value to remain.

Resolution

To remedy this situation, you will need to edit the /etc/my.cnf file and update the below entry to the proper user, most likely: mysql

user                            = netqos

to

user                            = mysql

 

Then perform an "over install" of the Portal application by rerunning the same installer except omit changing the value for the MySQL user or specify a valid new user if that is the desired outcome.