Comments - I know this has been asked loads before, but...

Does the /mnt/database/mysql/ directory exist? Try running mkdir -p /mnt/database/mysql/ first if you're using a Linux OS.

Hi Markus, Simple answer is yes. I have had no trouble getting it to work using the default installation.

Steps taken post successful default installation,

/etc/init.d/mysql stop
systemctl stop mariadb.service

remove error log rm /var/log/mysql/*

remove original error log rm /var/log/mysql/*

umount /dev/sda1
umount /mnt/usb_hd
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1 -L database
mkdir /mnt/database

Add Disk nano /etc/fstab add

/dev/sda1       /mnt/usb_hd      ext4    defaults        0       0
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/database

save and exit

mount -a
rsync -a /var/lib/mysql /mnt/database/

edit my.cnf nano /etc/mysql/my.cnf add

[client-server]
socket  = /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock
port    = 3306
[mysqld]
datadir = /mnt/database/mysql/mysql
[mariadb]
datadir = /mnt/database/mysql/mysql

save and exit.

Reboot

Try setting datadir = /mnt/database, that way it points to the same place to where the rsync was done.

Will do! I'm just rebuilding from the latest image (29/11/2017).. Yours Simon M.

OK rebuilt and same result..

here are the steps

All from root

#### Installing MariaDB

apt-get install mariadb-server -y
sudo mysql_secure_installation

#### Installing phpMyAdmin

apt-get install phpmyadmin
/etc/init.d/php7.0-fpm reload && /etc/init.d/nginx reload

mysql -u root -p
use mysql;
update user set plugin = '' where User = 'root';
flush privileges;
exit;

Test phpmyadmin in the browser: http://raspberrypi/phpmyadmin/ Super double stop database!

service mysql stop && /etc/init.d/mysql stop && systemctl stop mariadb.service && systemctl stop mysql.service && systemctl stop mariadb && systemctl stop mysql then check for to see if its dead systemctl is-active mariadb.service move data rsync -a /var/lib/mysql /mnt/database/

No change, can anyone share there working my.cnf?