@Sam Barker - you must have inadvertently fixed whatever error was causing the "/usr/bin/mysqladmin --defaults-file=$HOME/debian.cnf ping" command to fail. Try breaking your my.cnf as others have suggested, and you'll see the infinite loop still exists.
** Tags added: regression-release -- infinite loop in /etc/init/mysql.conf if mysqld is not running. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/551130 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Server Team, which is subscribed to mysql-dfsg-5.1 in ubuntu. -- Ubuntu-server-bugs mailing list Ubuntu-server-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-server-bugs