1、启动MySQL
[root@localhost ~]# mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

2、登录MySQL
[root@localhost ~]# mysql -uroot -p
Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 1
Server version: 5.5.25a-log Source distribution

Copyright (c) 2000, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its
affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

mysql> show databases;
+--------------------+
| Database |
+--------------------+
| information_schema |
| allen |
| mysql |
| mytest |
| performance_schema |
| test |
+--------------------+
6 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> use mysql
Database changed
mysql> update user set password=PASSWORD("123456") where user="root"; --修改root密码
Query OK, 4 rows affected (0.00 sec)
Rows matched: 4 Changed: 4 Warnings: 0

mysql> flush privileges;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> quit
Bye

3、重新使用密码登录
[root@localhost ~]# mysql -uroot -p123456
Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 2
Server version: 5.5.25a-log Source distribution

Copyright (c) 2000, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its
affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

mysql> show databases;
+--------------------+
| Database |
+--------------------+
| information_schema |
| allen |
| mysql |
| mytest |
| performance_schema |
| test |
+--------------------+
6 rows in set (0.00 sec)