--- title: "Using MySQL commands with Plesk on Linux" source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/plesk/database-management/using-mysql-commands-with-plesk-on-linux/" description: "Learn to use MySQL commands as root on a Plesk Linux server, understand /etc/psa/.psa.shadow, and set up passwordless MySQL access via /root/.my.cnf." vertical: "Hosting" date: "2025-06-02" last_modified: "2026-06-30" --- # Using MySQL commands with Plesk on Linux As a server administrator, you may need to interact with your MySQL or MariaDB database server directly from the command line for various tasks such as diagnostics, backups, or advanced user management. This guide will show you how to use MySQL commands on your Plesk Linux server as the system’s root user, including how Plesk manages its MySQL administrator password and how you can set up passwordless MySQL access for convenience and scripting. ## Understanding Plesk’s MySQL admin credentials If you’ve ever encountered this error while attempting to use MySQL commands on Plesk: ``` ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO) ``` There is a reason behind it, and also, a very easy way to work around the error. Plesk automatically creates an administrative user for MySQL ( named ‘admin’) when it’s installed. The password for this MySQL admin user is securely stored by Plesk in a special file. You’ll need this password to perform administrative tasks directly on the MySQL server. The primary file where Plesk stores this MySQL administrator password is: ``` /etc/psa/.psa.shadow ``` This file is protected and typically only readable by the system’s root user. You can view the password using the `cat` command when logged in as root via SSH: ``` cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow ``` The output will be the current MySQL admin password set by Plesk. ## Accessing MySQL using Plesk’s admin password To run MySQL commands, you’ll use the `mysql` command-line client. You need to specify the MySQL admin username (usually ‘admin’) and provide the password you retrieved from `/etc/psa/.psa.shadow`. You can do this in a single command: ``` mysql -u admin -p`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` ``` Let’s break this command down: - `mysql`: The command-line client utility. - `-u admin`: Specifies the MySQL user to connect as, which is ‘admin’ in this case (Plesk’s default admin user). - `-p`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow``: This part tells MySQL to use a password. The backticks (```) execute the `cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` command, and its output (the password) is immediately supplied to the `-p` option. After running this command, you’ll be directly logged into the MySQL monitor, where you can execute SQL queries. For example, to see all databases, once inside the MySQL monitor, you would type: ``` SHOW DATABASES; ``` To exit the MySQL monitor, type: ``` EXIT; ``` You can also execute single SQL commands directly from the bash prompt without entering the interactive MySQL monitor by using the `-e` option: ``` mysql -u admin -p`cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow` -e "SHOW DATABASES;" ``` ## Enabling passwordless MySQL access for the root user Constantly typing or pasting the password can be cumbersome and error-prone, especially when scripting. You can configure the system’s root user to automatically authenticate to MySQL using Plesk’s admin credentials by creating a `.my.cnf` configuration file in the root user’s home directory (`/root/`). Note**Important:** This method provides passwordless access to MySQL *for the system’s root user only*. It leverages the Plesk MySQL ‘admin’ user’s credentials but allows the system root user to run MySQL commands without manually entering the password each time. ### Creating the /root/.my.cnf file First, retrieve the Plesk MySQL admin password: ``` cat /etc/psa/.psa.shadow ``` Copy this password. Next, create and open the `/root/.my.cnf` file using a text editor like `nano` or `vim`: ``` vim /root/.my.cnf ``` Add the following content to the file, replacing `YOUR_PLESK_MYSQL_ADMIN_PASSWORD` with the actual password you copied: ``` [client] user=admin password="YOUR_PLESK_MYSQL_ADMIN_PASSWORD" ``` **Note:** Ensure the password is enclosed in quotes, especially if it contains special characters. Save the file and exit the text editor (Press `ESC`, then type **`:wq`**). ### Securing the /root/.my.cnf file Since this file contains sensitive credentials, it’s crucial to set strict permissions so that only the root user can read or write to it: ``` chmod 600 /root/.my.cnf ``` This command sets the permissions to read and write for the owner (root) only. ### Using passwordless MySQL commands With the `/root/.my.cnf` file configured, the system root user can now run MySQL commands without needing to specify the username or password. The `mysql` client will automatically read these credentials from the `.my.cnf` file. To log into the MySQL monitor: ``` mysql ``` To execute a single command: ``` mysql -e "SHOW DATABASES;" ``` Other MySQL utilities like `mysqlshow`, `mysqldump`, and `mysqladmin` will also use these credentials automatically when run by the system root user. For example, to list all databases using `mysqlshow`: ``` mysqlshow ``` To back up a specific database (e.g., `my_database`): ``` mysqldump my_database > my_database_backup.sql ``` ## Conclusion You now know how to access MySQL as an administrator on your Plesk Linux server using both Plesk’s stored credentials directly and by setting up convenient passwordless access for the system root user via the `/root/.my.cnf` file. This allows for efficient database management and scripting directly from the command line. Always ensure that your `/root/.my.cnf` file is properly secured to protect your database credentials. If you run into any further issues, feel free to reach out to our [support team.](https://www.liquidweb.com/support)