rebuilding mythconverg database

[pseudotheist]

I am trying to get mythtv working and can not get the backend started because of the "Do not have mythconverg database" error. I can connect to the mysql server with the mythtv account, and can access the mythconverg database, but it is empty. I'm wondering if this may be due to the mysql_native_password issue with mysql 8, but figure if that were the case I would not be able to connect to the server. In any event my current mysql version does not recognize the mysql_native_password=ON option.

I'm running mythtv 35 & mysql 8 on mint.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[pgbennett]

You may have a bad config.xml file in $HOME/.mythtv of the userid that is starting mythbackend. It can start without a config.xml or with a valid one with correct user id, database and password, but one that has the wrong information will cause mythbackend startup to fail.

[white_haired_uncle]

If this is a new install, you did point a browser at http://your-backend:6544 and follow the instructions for configuring the database?

By which, I really mean, what steps did you take to get into this situation?

[pseudotheist]

It's a mostly new install, with a separate home directory partition which persists from a previous successful install about a year ago.

I have been on the backend web browser, which is what reports "Do not have mythconverg database".
From memory, I believe the work was roughly:
apt install mythtv
manual SQL account configuration to get the backend to connect to the SQL server, including several "systemctl restart mysql"
apt purge mythtv
apt purge mysql*
add MythTV version 35 repository
apt install mythtv
Fail to implement "mysql_native_password=ON" on current version of mysql
verify account setting is config files
delete configuration files (I believe $HOME/.mythtv/config.xml, but can't check right now) & reboot

currently researching installation of mysql 5.7

[pgbennett]

I don't know wwhy it wanted approval for your post. I approved it.

[white_haired_uncle]

You should be fine with mysql8, but when the web app gives you the instructions to create the database user "WITH mysql_native_password" you can just leave that part out. I don't remember the exact syntax, you can probably just use the mariadb button instead of mysql.

Are you working from any instructions?

Is this a more or less stock version of Mint, and if so what version?

[white_haired_uncle]

So I just installed mint22, added the mythbuntu/35 repo, mythtv, etc. Got it all figured out, documented the process, and then found out it was actually myth v34. Trying to figure out exactly why it seems to be ignoring mythbuntu. You might check yours (your notes above make the same mistake I did).

Works fine with v34 though. The key for me was to just wait at the db setup screen (watching the backend log), after a minute or so the "No database" thingy changed into "Have mythconverg" (or whatever).

EDIT: Okay, forgot to run apt update after adding mythbuntu. Starting over from scratch...

Okay, Mint 22 brand new install, no existing mythtv or mysql, v35 package from mythbuntu works fine for me. Again, the key is to just wait a couple minutes (the database is doing schema updates, once they are done it takes a minute or so(?) and web app will notice).

The exact steps I followed (same as ubuntu2404).

[pseudotheist]

Looks like sql user entries default to caching_sha2_password:

Code: Select all

mysql> SELECT user, host, plugin FROM mysql.user;
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| user             | host      | plugin                |
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| mythtv           | %         | mysql_native_password |
| debian-sys-maint | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.infoschema | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.session    | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.sys        | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mythtv           | localhost | mysql_native_password |
| root             | localhost | auth_socket           |
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
7 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> drop user 'mythtv'@'%';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec)

mysql> drop user 'mythtv'@'localhost';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)

mysql> CREATE USER IF NOT EXISTS 'mythtv'@'localhost';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)

mysql> SELECT user, host, plugin FROM mysql.user;
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| user             | host      | plugin                |
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| debian-sys-maint | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.infoschema | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.session    | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.sys        | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mythtv           | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| root             | localhost | auth_socket           |
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
6 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> ALTER USER 'mythtv'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'mythtv';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec)

mysql> GRANT ALL ON mythconverg.* TO mythtv@localhost;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)

mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)

mysql> GRANT CREATE TEMPORARY TABLES ON mythconverg.* TO mythtv@localhost;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)

mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)

mysql> ALTER DATABASE mythconverg DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_general_ci;
Query OK, 1 row affected, 2 warnings (0.01 sec)

mysql> show warnings;
+---------+------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Level   | Code | Message                                                                                                                                                                     |
+---------+------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Warning | 3719 | 'utf8' is currently an alias for the character set UTF8MB3, but will be an alias for UTF8MB4 in a future release. Please consider using UTF8MB4 in order to be unambiguous. |
| Warning | 3778 | 'utf8mb3_general_ci' is a collation of the deprecated character set UTF8MB3. Please consider using UTF8MB4 with an appropriate collation instead.                           |
+---------+------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
2 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> SELECT user, host, plugin FROM mysql.user;
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| user             | host      | plugin                |
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
| debian-sys-maint | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.infoschema | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.session    | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mysql.sys        | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| mythtv           | localhost | caching_sha2_password |
| root             | localhost | auth_socket           |
+------------------+-----------+-----------------------+
6 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> use mythconverg
Database changed
mysql> show tables;
Empty set (0.01 sec)

I had already deleted ~/.mythtv, but here's the /etc/mythtv/config.xml file:

Code: Select all

<Configuration>
  <Database>
    <PingHost>1</PingHost>
    <Host>localhost</Host>
    <UserName>mythtv</UserName>
    <Password>mythtv</Password>
    <DatabaseName>mythconverg</DatabaseName>
    <Port>3306</Port>
  </Database>
  <WakeOnLAN>
    <Enabled>0</Enabled>
    <SQLReconnectWaitTime>0</SQLReconnectWaitTime>
    <SQLConnectRetry>5</SQLConnectRetry>
    <Command>echo 'WOLsqlServerCommand not set'</Command>
  </WakeOnLAN>
</Configuration>

package versions:

Code: Select all

nazgul@Barad-Dur:~$ apt list mythtv pwgen xmltv
Listing... Done
mythtv/noble,noble,now 2:35.0+fixes.202508101748.931474b3a0~ubuntu24.04.1 all [installed]
pwgen/noble,now 2.08-2build2 amd64 [installed]
xmltv/noble,noble,now 1.3.0-1 all [installed]
nazgul@Barad-Dur:~$ apt list | grep mysql | grep installed


WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

default-mysql-server/noble,noble,now 1.1.0build1 all [installed,automatic]
libdbd-mysql-perl/noble,now 4.052-1ubuntu3 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libmysqlclient21/noble-updates,noble-security,now 8.0.43-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libqt5sql5-mysql/noble,now 5.15.13+dfsg-1ubuntu1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
mysql-apt-config/unknown,unknown,now 0.8.24-1 all [installed]
mysql-client-8.0/noble-updates,noble-security,now 8.0.43-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
mysql-client-core-8.0/noble-updates,noble-security,now 8.0.43-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
mysql-common/noble,noble,now 5.8+1.1.0build1 all [installed,automatic]
mysql-server-8.0/noble-updates,noble-security,now 8.0.43-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
mysql-server-core-8.0/noble-updates,noble-security,now 8.0.43-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
python3-mysqldb/noble,now 1.4.6-2build3 amd64 [installed,automatic]

Still getting the "Do not have mythconverg database" error.

[white_haired_uncle]

I had already deleted ~/.mythtv, but here's the /etc/mythtv/config.xml file:

Unless you're logged in as mythtv (or are trying to run mythbackend as 'yourself'), ~/.mythtv shouldn't be relevant. What does ~mythtv/.mythtv/config.xml look like?

And you are running mythbackend as mythtv? Through systemd or manually, BTW?

While trying to replicate your steps, I was able to get myth into a state where the "old" (generated by the install) password was still in ~mythtv/.mythtv/config.xml even though I changed it in web app to mythtv. I changed it manually, restarted mythbackend (with an empty mythconverg) and it created the tables for me.

What do you see in the mythbackend log when you restart?

P.S. mysql_native_password shouldn't be a problem, I was using it. AFAIK, it's only an issue as of mysql8.4.

[pseudotheist]

Looks like it's running via systemctl as mythtv:

Code: Select all

root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# ps -ef | grep -i myth
mythtv      1219       1  0 Aug20 ?        00:03:09 /usr/bin/mythbackend --quiet --syslog local7

root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# systemctl status mythtv-backend
● mythtv-backend.service - MythTV Backend
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/mythtv-backend.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Wed 2025-08-20 19:14:56 EDT; 1 day 1h ago
       Docs: https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Mythbackend
   Main PID: 1219 (mythbackend)
      Tasks: 6 (limit: 37723)
     Memory: 87.8M (peak: 88.7M)
        CPU: 3min 8.988s
     CGroup: /system.slice/mythtv-backend.service
             └─1219 /usr/bin/mythbackend --quiet --syslog local7

Aug 20 19:26:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP0 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 20 19:26:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP0 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                             Query was:
                                             
                                             Driver error was [1/]:
                                             Driver not loaded
                                             Database error was:
                                             Driver not loaded
Aug 20 19:26:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP0 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP4 dbutil.cpp:871 (CheckTimeZoneSupport) MySQL time zone support check failed
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP4 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                             Query was:
                                             
                                             Driver error was [1/]:
                                             Driver not loaded
                                             Database error was:
                                             Driver not loaded
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP4 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP3 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                             Query was:
                                             
                                             Driver error was [1/]:
                                             Driver not loaded
                                             Database error was:
                                             Driver not loaded
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP3 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP3 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                             Query was:
                                             
                                             Driver error was [1/]:
                                             Driver not loaded
                                             Database error was:
                                             Driver not loaded
Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP3 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.

Not sure if that driver would refer to the caching_sha2_password, or if there's something else I'm supposed to have loaded...

So far as I can tell it's the same:

Code: Select all

root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# cat ~mythtv/.mythtv/config.xml 
<Configuration>
  <Database>
    <PingHost>1</PingHost>
    <Host>localhost</Host>
    <UserName>mythtv</UserName>
    <Password>mythtv</Password>
    <DatabaseName>mythconverg</DatabaseName>
    <Port>3306</Port>
  </Database>
  <WakeOnLAN>
    <Enabled>0</Enabled>
    <SQLReconnectWaitTime>0</SQLReconnectWaitTime>
    <SQLConnectRetry>5</SQLConnectRetry>
    <Command>echo 'WOLsqlServerCommand not set'</Command>
  </WakeOnLAN>
</Configuration>

[white_haired_uncle]

Aug 20 19:28:46 Barad-Dur mythbackend[1219]: mythbackend[1219]: E HTTP4 dbutil.cpp:871 (CheckTimeZoneSupport) MySQL time zone support check failed

This caught my attention, though it's about a day old so. Did you load the tzinfo?

Also, mythbackend has been running since before you posted last night. Have you restarted it (via systemd) since you manually altered the mysql/mythtv user?

[pseudotheist]

I had at some point loaded the tzinfo, but not since reinstalling. I figured it was probably not the issue, since the directions say to install it after connecting the backend...

Code: Select all

root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# mysql_tzinfo_to_sql /usr/share/zoneinfo | mysql -u root -p mysql
Enter password: 
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/iso3166.tab' as time zone. Skipping it.
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/leap-seconds.list' as time zone. Skipping it.
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/leapseconds' as time zone. Skipping it.
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/tzdata.zi' as time zone. Skipping it.
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/zone.tab' as time zone. Skipping it.
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/zone1970.tab' as time zone. Skipping it.
Warning: Unable to load '/usr/share/zoneinfo/zonenow.tab' as time zone. Skipping it.
root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# systemctl restart mythtv-backend
root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# systemctl status mythtv-backend
● mythtv-backend.service - MythTV Backend
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/mythtv-backend.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-08-22 16:21:02 EDT; 6s ago
       Docs: https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Mythbackend
   Main PID: 40420 (mythbackend)
      Tasks: 10 (limit: 37723)
     Memory: 8.8M (peak: 9.6M)
        CPU: 135ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/mythtv-backend.service
             └─40420 /usr/bin/mythbackend --quiet --syslog local7

Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: N CoreContext mythbackend_main_helpers.cpp:809 (run_setup_webserver) ***** MythBackend starting in Web App only mode for in>
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: N CoreContext mythbackend_main_helpers.cpp:810 (run_setup_webserver) ***** Use http://<yourBackend>:6544 to perform setup  >
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: N CoreContext mythbackend_main_helpers.cpp:811 (run_setup_webserver) ******************************************************>
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I CoreContext mythhttpthreadpool.cpp:16 (MythHTTPThreadPool) HTTPPool: Using maximum 8 threads
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: W HTTPServer mythhttps.cpp:56 (InitSSLServer) SSL: SSL Host key file (/home/mythtv/.mythtv/certificates/key.pem) does not e>
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTPServer serverpool.cpp:421 (listen) Listening on TCP 0.0.0.0:6544
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTPServer serverpool.cpp:421 (listen) Listening on TCP [::]:6544
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTPServer serverpool.cpp:421 (listen) Listening on TCP 0.0.0.0:6744
Aug 22 16:21:02 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTPServer serverpool.cpp:421 (listen) Listening on TCP [::]:6744
Aug 22 16:21:03 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTPServer bonjourregister.cpp:116 (BonjourCallback) Bonjour: Service registration complete: name 'mythbackend on Barad-D>

Then I tried the backend setup, and got most of the error messages back:

Code: Select all

root@Barad-Dur:/home/nazgul# systemctl status mythtv-backend
● mythtv-backend.service - MythTV Backend
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/mythtv-backend.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-08-22 16:21:02 EDT; 11min ago
       Docs: https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Mythbackend
   Main PID: 40420 (mythbackend)
      Tasks: 10 (limit: 37723)
     Memory: 9.9M (peak: 12.6M)
        CPU: 1.790s
     CGroup: /system.slice/mythtv-backend.service
             └─40420 /usr/bin/mythbackend --quiet --syslog local7

Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTP0 mythhttpmetaservice.cpp:126 (MythHTTPMetaService) Service 'Myth' introspection complete
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 dbutil.cpp:871 (CheckTimeZoneSupport) MySQL time zone support check failed
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                              Query was:
                                              
                                              Driver error was [1/]:
                                              Driver not loaded
                                              Database error was:
                                              Driver not loaded
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTP1 mythhttpmetaservice.cpp:126 (MythHTTPMetaService) Service 'Config' introspection complete
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                              Query was:
                                              
                                              Driver error was [1/]:
                                              Driver not loaded
                                              Database error was:
                                              Driver not loaded
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 mythdb.cpp:227 (DBError) DB Error (API Myth/GetSetting ):
                                              Query was:
                                              
                                              Driver error was [1/]:
                                              Driver not loaded
                                              Database error was:
                                              Driver not loaded
Aug 22 16:31:50 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: E HTTP1 mythhttpservice.cpp:151 (HTTPRequest) Service Exception: Database Error executing query.
Aug 22 16:31:55 Barad-Dur mythbackend[40420]: mythbackend[40420]: I HTTP1 mythhttpmetaservice.cpp:126 (MythHTTPMetaService) Service 'Dvr' introspection complete

[white_haired_uncle]

I had at some point loaded the tzinfo, but not since reinstalling. I figured it was probably not the issue, since the directions say to install it after connecting the backend...

Yeah, it really doesn't matter when you do it, as long as you do. IIRC the web app is going to ask you to do it initially (even if it's done), and then remind you again (maybe, that might only be if you need to set up the database).

Then I tried the backend setup,

What does this mean? You went to backend:6544, the web app gave you some instructions (do this, hit save, hit restart, etc)? What did you do? What does it say now? Wish we could post screenshots.

[pseudotheist]

Yes, went to http://localhost:6544/setupwizard/dbsetup
Settings are:
MySQL Server IP - localhost
MySQL Server Port - 3306
MySQL User - mythtv
MySQL Password - mythtv
MySQL Database Name - mythconverg
No boxes checked

I try "Test Databse Connection" and get:
Connected to database
Do not have 'mythconverg' database
Database schema version is unknown

Then I try "Save" and get:
ERROR: Backend Network Failure

I also try: "Restart Backend Full Operation", which fails after "Waiting for Backend"
Warnings at the top of page are:
Backend cannot start normally because Database Setup is not complete.
When you are finished with updates, restart the backend.

[white_haired_uncle]

Try as I might, I can't get my test system into that same state. It sounds like you can connect to mysql using the credentials, but there is no mythconverg (and since the schema is in mythconverg.settings, "Database schema version is unknown"). But when I set mine up like that,the mythbackend log complains about "MYSQL: Unable to connect#012Database error was:#012Unknown database 'mythconverg'". And with an empty database (which includes if I just drop it and create it again from mysql) it just updates the schema and creates the tables.

What state is mythconverg in? Does it exist, and if so does it have tables? What about "select * from settings where value='DBSchemaVer';" ?

It would probably help to look at the actual /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log instead of systemd's last dozen or so entries (could probably get the whole thing from journalctl, but why).

Personally, I'd stop mythtv-backend in systemd and just run

Code: Select all

sudo -u mythtv mythbackend

in a terminal and watch that. It does act differently in interactive mode, though the only way I know of it doing so probably won't help you.

Or just punt, remove mythtv, mysql and the mythtv user and set it up clean from scratch using the steps above.