Bug #82172 mysql_upgrade: [ERROR] 1050: Table './mysql/help_topic' already exists

• Submitted: 8 Jul 2016 20:15
• Modified: 11 Jul 2016 4:39
• Reporter: Henry Carvalho
• Status: Can't repeat
• Category: MySQL Server: Installing
• Severity: S3 (Non-critical)
• Version: 5.7
• OS: Ubuntu (Ubuntu server 16.04 LTS )
• CPU Architecture: Any
• Tags: mysql_upgrade help_topic already exists

[8 Jul 2016 20:15] Henry Carvalho

Description:
During upgrade of the database 5.5 to 5.7, the mysql_upgrade utility displays the error message: mysql_upgrade: [ERROR] 1050: Table './mysql/help_topic' already exists

How to repeat:
After installation in a new machine with the new version of ubuntu 16.04 and overwrite all files in /var/lib/mysql with a tar file backup from previous version, the mysql_upgrade utility showed the error.

Suggested fix:
Unknown.

[11 Jul 2016 4:39] MySQL Verification Team

Hello Henry,

Thank you for the report.
After reading your bug description, I assume that you have performed an in-place upgraded i.e from MySQL version 5.5 to MySQL Server version 5.7 by upgrading binaries and then using the 5.5 datadir. Upgrading more than one release level is supported, but only if you upgrade one release level at a time. For example, if you currently are running MySQL 5.5 and wish to upgrade to a newer series, upgrade to MySQL 5.6 first before upgrading to MySQL 5.7, and so forth. Please note that direct upgrades that skip a release level (for example, upgrading directly from MySQL 5.5 to 5.7) are not recommended or supported. Please see http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/upgrading.html

I just tried in place upgrade without skipping the release then didn't notice the issue which you observed. Please see if you can upgrade as recommended. If you can provide more information, feel free to add it to this bug and change the status back to 'Open'.

Thank you for your interest in MySQL.

Thanks,
Umesh