Why is MySQL server failed to start

[ctvnsc]

Hi,

I just got a new machine with RHv4u3 with all PHP, Apache and Mysql installed. After I invoked "apachectl start" and "groupadd & useradd" with no problem but I don't see "var" sub-directory under "/var/lib/mysql" directory so I skipped "chown & chmod" commands and ran "/usr/bin/mysqld_safe" which it gave me the following error:

"Starting mysqld daemon with databases from /var/lib/mysql
STOPPING server from pid file /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid
....mysqld ended
"

How can I find out where is mysql installed (as it came with RHv4u3 pre-installed) and any suggestion how to fix it? The online document does not help, it even has the command "mysqld_safe" backward.

Thanks,
ctvnsc

[Interdit]

Check your servers logs and/or contact your host about that.

[ctvnsc]

Ok, here is what inside the mysql log file. I don't know anything about database so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

070116 16:10:47 mysqld started
InnoDB: The first specified data file ./ibdata1 did not exist:
InnoDB: a new database to be created!
070116 16:10:47 InnoDB: Setting file ./ibdata1 size to 10 MB
InnoDB: Database physically writes the file full: wait...
070116 16:10:47 InnoDB: Log file ./ib_logfile0 did not exist: new to be created
InnoDB: Setting log file ./ib_logfile0 size to 5 MB
InnoDB: Database physically writes the file full: wait...
070116 16:10:47 InnoDB: Log file ./ib_logfile1 did not exist: new to be created
InnoDB: Setting log file ./ib_logfile1 size to 5 MB
InnoDB: Database physically writes the file full: wait...
InnoDB: Doublewrite buffer not found: creating new
InnoDB: Doublewrite buffer created
InnoDB: Creating foreign key constraint system tables
InnoDB: Foreign key constraint system tables created
070116 16:10:48 InnoDB: Started; log sequence number 0 0
070116 16:10:48 [ERROR] /usr/libexec/mysqld: Can't find file: './mysql/host.frm' (errno: 13)
070116 16:10:48 [ERROR] Fatal error: Can't open privilege tables: Can't find file: './mysql/host.frm' (errno: 13)
070116 16:10:48 mysqld ended

070116 16:13:26 mysqld started
070116 16:13:26 [ERROR] Can't start server : Bind on unix socket: Permission denied
070116 16:13:26 [ERROR] Do you already have another mysqld server running on socket: /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock ?
070116 16:13:26 [ERROR] Aborting

070116 16:13:26 [Note] /usr/libexec/mysqld: Shutdown complete

070116 16:13:26 mysqld ended

070117 09:16:31 mysqld started
070117 9:16:31 [ERROR] Can't start server : Bind on unix socket: Permission denied
070117 9:16:31 [ERROR] Do you already have another mysqld server running on socket: /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock ?

[ctvnsc]

ok, I don't see any reply. Do I need to create a new db first? or should I install vBulletin first or the order does not matter?

Thanks,
ctvnsc