Title: Understanding DB setup issues
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Understanding DB setup issues

 *  Resolved [fastbob](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fastbob/)
 * (@fastbob)
 * [17 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/)
 * I’m trying to install 2.7.1 using PHP 4.4.7 on Linux with MySQL 5.0.16, a system
   that currently supports another PHP application (SugarCRM) and other applications.
   WordPress cannot seem to connect to the database. I’ve tried creating the wp-
   config.php file manually as well as from the web interface. I’ve tried using 
   a new database/username/password as well as an existing database that I know 
   works. WordPress cannot connect.
 * Is there some way I can diagnose what is going on with the configuration? Thanks.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/)
 * (@whooami)
 * [17 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/#post-1081229)
 * wordpress does that for you — it tells you the problem.
 *  Thread Starter [fastbob](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fastbob/)
 * (@fastbob)
 * [17 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/#post-1081284)
 * Yes, it does tell me it cannot connect. But why? There can be a multitude of 
   reasons why a connection fails. This is like telling a mechanic your car doesn’t
   move forward. A little more information would help to differentiate between a
   flat tire, the engine on fire, out of gas, etc.
 * I’ve checked the obvious several times – username, password, and database name.
   Localhost is correct and the database is up. Another PHP app came up without 
   problems on the same system. So what’s the problem with WP?
 *  Thread Starter [fastbob](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fastbob/)
 * (@fastbob)
 * [17 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/#post-1081359)
 * Is there a particular PHP module I should examine? Is there tracing code I can
   turn on someplace? Thanks.
 *  Thread Starter [fastbob](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fastbob/)
 * (@fastbob)
 * [17 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/#post-1081376)
 * I found out that the path to the mysql socket is different than most systems,
   so the solution was to use a named host rather than localhost.
 *  [elamberdor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/elamberdor/)
 * (@elamberdor)
 * [16 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/#post-1081540)
 * I know this is resolved but this is my gripe too – yes it can’t connect to the
   host… but why? and where is it failing?
 * More info for the wordpress uninitiated!

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Understanding DB setup issues’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [log](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/log/)
 * [MySQL](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/mysql/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 5 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [elamberdor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/elamberdor/)
 * Last activity: [16 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/understanding-db-setup-issues/#post-1081540)
 * Status: resolved

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