[debian-mysql] Bug#663000: Bug#663000: mysql-server: MySQL fails to start, after 5.1.61 upgrade, incorrect permissions

[Pablo Noguera]

I've also experienced the same problem today as I tried to upgrade to
mysql-server-5.1 5.1.63-0+squeeze1.

I've managed to debug the postinstall script and the problem was caused
by the line 144:

  bash /usr/bin/mysql_install_db --rpm 2>&1 | $ERR_LOGGER

I didn't had the time to look very deeply in this script, but at least I
could install mysql-server-5.1 properly by substituting the previous
line with this:

  bash /usr/bin/mysql_install_db --user mysql --rpm 2>&1 | $ERR_LOGGER

Another option is to edit /usr/bin/mysql_install_db and put user="mysql"
in the line 30. So you can avoid this issue in future upgrades also.

I hope this can help.