okay so I think its working ... i got

"root@li65-162:~# /etc/init.d/mysql start
* Starting MySQL database server mysqld
...done."

Im not really sure what to google to get more info... you guys have been so awesome in helping me out thank you!!! I cant wait to read up and learn more...

Right now I have backup files ( that the old developer gave to me from the old server) they are .sql how would I go about getting the back up files into my new mysql?

does this look like a good one? http://www.linuxhelp.net/guides/mysql/

I just dont want to do something that im not suppose to be

Easy way

1. apt-get install phpmyadmin
2. Point your browser at http://your.ip.address/phpmyadmin
3. Log in as root + MySQL root password (not your SSH root password, though they may be the same)
4. Create a databse
5. Go to "privileges", add a user, give the user access to the database
6. Log out of phpmyadmin and try to log back in as newly created user
7. Select the database
8. Go to "import" and just upload the .sql file!

http://97.107.135.162/phpmyadmin
getting an error

Do you have a webserver setup and running?

http://97.107.135.162/

I can't connect to it from 3 different locations.

Yes I believe so. I can access my server via ftp

But you, well I, can't access your site from a browser, so I'd say you either don't have a web server installed or it's not running.

Have you installed Apache, Lighttpd, or ngix?

What's the error message you get when you try to access your site with a web browser?

this is the message that I get
Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at 97.107.135.162.

Im kind of confused ( and im sorry) about when u say install... do i upload the files to my server? do i write a command in the terminal? I thought I had mysql running but i guess not.. thanks for being patient with me

okay so im using Aptitude now is there somewhere in there that i can install mysql?

Mysql is installed and running -- you just need a web server if you want to upload data via a browser & phpmyadmin.

Have you followed hybinet's suggestions, above ?

Cheers.

you mean this

Easy way

1. apt-get install phpmyadmin
2. Point your browser at http://your.ip.address/phpmyadmin
3. Log in as root + MySQL root password (not your SSH root password, though they may be the same)
4. Create a databse
5. Go to "privileges", add a user, give the user access to the database
6. Log out of phpmyadmin and try to log back in as newly created user
7. Select the database
8. Go to "import" and just upload the .sql file!

When i go to http://97.107.135.162/phpmyadmin im just getting an error saying that i cant connect...

okay i did a few things but now im getting this Not Found

The requested URL /phpmyadmin was not found on this server.
Apache/2.2.11 (Ubuntu) Server at 97.107.135.162 Port 80

Check that there is a link to phpmyadmin in /var/www/

ls -l  /var/www

Did apititude offer to configure Apache for you, when you installed it ? Nonetheless, restart apache just in case you installed them in an odd order:

/etc/init.d/apache2 restart

Edit: Actually, I'm guessing that you probably didn't let Aptitude auto configure phpmyadmin. To do it again:

dpkg-reconfigure phpmyadmin

-- and make sure Apache is selected (has a dot in the box -- use the space bar), then press tab to a few times to select the OK button, then press enter.

I dont believe if offerend me to no...
this is what i get when i type that command
root@li65-162:~# ls -l /var/www
total 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 45 May 28 21:52 index.html

See above to reconfigure it (dpkg-reconfigure phpymadmin), else create the symlink manually:

ln -s /usr/share/phpmyadmin/index.php /var/www/phpmyadmin