How to reset mysql root password ?

1. Stop/ kill the mysqld
# service mysql stop #pkill -9 mysqld
2) Start the mysql in safe mode as follows

# mysqld --skip-grant-tables --user=root & 
3) Now update the mysql user tables and root password as follows
#mysql
 mysql>use mysql;
 mysql>UPDATE user SET Password=PASSWORD('YOUR_PASSWORD')  WHERE Host='localhost' AND User='root';
 mysql>flush privileges;

Now add the new password “YOUR_PASSWORD” in /root/.my.cnf and start mysql

# service mysql start