Doing some more reading up on #mysql Turns out I might be better off using a version from a different repo, and also newer versions of it don't allow the Linux root user to login, you have to use the mysql user to set things up.
Knew there was a reason I have several VMs, I'll have a play with it in the MATE sandbox, if I can get it doing what I want there I might give it a reprieve for real. Then again, I might not. I don't have any requirements for a database right now.
It just annoys me!;*
Right, happy to report that install #mysql 8.0.11 was pretty painless on #UbuntuMATE #Bionic
Slightly less so on #Kubuntu #Bionic Had to purge the mysql-server and mysql-community-server packages and then install them again.
Or, put another way, I had to remove the older config files, and the database files before installing the new version of mysql.
And finally, I got a prompt to set up a root password (:*
And I've given myself full privileges, if I ever need a database.
