Description:
In MySQL, if you want to have your databases located in another directory than "/var/lib/mysql" you can change the datadir in my.cnf.

However, the rc.d iniscript for mysqld, executes "mysqld_safe --datadir=$MYSQLD_ROOT" where $MYSQLD_ROOT is the default directory. This actually overrides the definitions made in the my.cnf file, making it impossible to move the directory.

I had changed the script on a production mysql server (removed the --datadir directive), but with the most recent update of mysql, pacman relentlessly replaced the rc.d file - leaving MySQL unable to start (!)

I have attached a patch for the rc.d file, which you can apply to fix the issue.

Additional info:
Version: mysql 5.1.45-1

It was during (or should i say after) the update from the previous version (i don't remember the version number) to the above, that the problem occurred.


Steps to reproduce:
* Stop mysql
* Change the "datadir" in my.cnf to something else than the default
* move your datadir directory to the new location.
* Make sure that it is properly owned by mysql
* Try to start mysql.. it will now fail.

Now apply the patch to the rc.d file and try again. MySql should start correctly now.