Why can't I start MariaDB?

Question

Arch Linux, standard kernel 5.16.3, MariaDB v10.6.5.

I try to start MariaDB, and it fails with

ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local server through socket '/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (111)

systemctl status mariadb gives me

Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: 2022-01-28 20:13:13 0 [Note] InnoDB: Buffer pool(s) load completed at 220128 20:13:13
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: 2022-01-28 20:13:13 0 [ERROR] Can't open and lock privilege tables: Table 'mysql.servers' doesn't exist
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: 2022-01-28 20:13:13 0 [Note] Server socket created on IP: '0.0.0.0'.
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: 2022-01-28 20:13:13 0 [Note] Server socket created on IP: '::'.
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: 2022-01-28 20:13:13 0 [ERROR] Fatal error: Can't open and lock privilege tables: Table 'mysql.db' doesn't exist
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: 2022-01-28 20:13:13 0 [ERROR] Aborting
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle mariadbd[2915]: Warning: Memory not freed: 280
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle systemd[1]: mariadb.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle systemd[1]: mariadb.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Jan 28 20:13:13 gazelle systemd[1]: Failed to start MariaDB 10.6.5 database server.

So okay, I can't connect because the server isn't starting up. But even when it did start --- it did start on a few occasions, I would still get this error. I looked in /run/mysqld , and mysqld.sock is there, with 777 permissions, and it's owned by the mysql user. I've also made sure that /var/lib/mysql and everything underneath it is owned by mysql

Here's /etc/my.cnf

#
# This group is read both by the client and the server
# use it for options that affect everything
#
[client-server]

[mysqld]
socket = /run/mysqld/mysqld.sock

[client]
socket = /run/mysqld/mysqld.sock

#
# include *.cnf from the config directory
#
!includedir /etc/my.cnf.d

What are the next possible steps? I've scoured the 'net, and nothing seems to help.

Answer 1

When initializing the database, mysql_install_db Whether the datadir directory is specified during dB. It is recommended to use my.cnf Specify the datadir directory in the CNF configuration file

Answer 2

Okay, so Paul T's comment

Curious about the two missing tables causing errors. Did the install not go smoothly, maybe reinstall?

was the clue. Looked at the Arch wiki, and I forgot to run mariadb-install-db . Should've RTFM.