Using mysqldump - How to back up a MySQL database on Linux with the mysql dump command

You do not need to invoke the mysql command or log into your MySQL server..
From your linux shell command line type:

MyLinuxServer:/ # mysqldump -u root -p  databaseName > databaseBackupFileName.sql;

You will be prompted to enter the password next "Enter password:"

View all MySQL databases - SQL command to show databases on MySQL Linux

Once you log into MySql,

mysql> SHOW DATABASES;

Log into a MySQL server

Command:

MyLinuxServer:/ # mysql -u root -p


You will be prompted to enter the password "Enter password:"  next

Stop, Start, Restart, Status of MySQL server

I've tired many commands, I find these to work the best using the Sys-V init scripts located in /etc/init.d.

Start:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start

Stop:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop

Restart / reload configs:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql restart

Check run status:

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql status