Description: Solution for the symbolic link to network drives error

How-To-Repeat: See below

Fix: If you are running MySQL as a service, I think I have the solution : I use Windows 2000. I do a symlink to a network drive. When I run MySQL as a service, I have the problem you describe (ERROR 1049: Unknown database) But when I run MySQL from the console (mysqld-max-nt --standalone --console) I don't have the problem.

So this is a PERMISSION problem. See Control Panel -> Services -> "Properties of the MySQL service" : in one subwindow of this window, you have the account the service runs as : it probably says the MySQL service runs as LocalSystem. This account is local to your machine, it means it is not a DOMAIN account, hence it does not see the network drive : the network drive is open only to network accounts (i.e. domain accounts) (even when you give permission to "Everyone" on the network drive, it means "Every domain account", not more). So what you have to do is simply change the account the MySQL service should run as : give it a DOMAIN account (yours or another dedicated to MySQL). Check that this account has enough permission on your network drive. Restart the MySQL service, it should work now (it solved the problem on my computer).

Guilhem