When you want to change the password for a MySQL account, it is important to realize that there may be multiple passwords for a single mysql username. There may be separate passwords for remote and local (aka. localhost) access depending on how things are configured. If your database has been set up on the central Luddy MySQL server, db.luddy.indiana.edu (aka luddy.sice.indiana.edu and luddy.soic.indiana.edu), then you will only have a remote account so do not need to worry about a password for the local account. Here is the procedure for changing remote and local account passwords:

If you are using the central Luddy School MySQL server, db.luddy.indiana.edu, then the easiest way is just to use the phpMyAdmin web Interface. Just log in using your current MySQL username and password and then you can change the password by clicking the Change password link under General Settings. PLEASE NOTE that you will only be able to access this web interface while on the IU network or by using the IU VPN if you are connecting from outside of IU.

WARNING: If you use either of the following command line methods, please note that your new password will end up in your .mysql_history file. You are urged to edit that file and remove the password change line after you change your password.

From any of the Luddy School linux systems (such as silo, tank, hulk, or any system other than the MySQL server itself) run the following. You can use this procedure to change the password for a database hosted on db.luddy.indiana.edu.

$mysql -h db.luddy.indiana.edu -u db_username -p db_name
Enter password: <enter the old remote password for the db_username account>
...
mysql> set password for 'db_username'@'%' = PASSWORD('new_password');

In this example, the MySQL server is db.luddy.indiana.edu but you can change that to the appropriate server if you are not using the central SICE MySQL server. You will replace db_name with the name of the MySQL database, db_username with the MySQL account username, and new_password with the new password

If you are using a system other than db.luddy.indiana.edu where you have a localhost database account, you can set the password as follows once you are logged into the MySQL server. Please note that you will NOT need to, or be able to, do this for a database hosted on db.luddy.indiana.edu.

$ mysql -u db_username -p db_name
Enter password: <enter the old local password for the db_username account>
...
mysql> set password for 'db_username'@'localhost' = PASSWORD('new_password');

In this example, you will replace db_name with the name of the MySQL database, db_username with the MySQL account username, and new_password with the new password.