I was able to install magento by using 127.0.0.1 and it works fine. Here is the problem. I have a client who wants me to take an existing magneto installation and modify the css to look like an entirely different store. Imported the database and copied all of the files. configured the local.xml file to reflect the changes. When I go to the home page I get the following errors. SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond. Trace: #0 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\lib\Zend\Db\Adapter\Pdo\Mysql.php(96): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Abstract->_connect() #1 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\lib\Varien\Db\Adapter\Pdo\Mysql.php(251): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->_connect() #2 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\lib\Zend\Db\Adapter\Abstract.php(448): Varien_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->_connect() #3 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\lib\Zend\Db\Adapter\Pdo\Abstract.php(238): Zend_Db_Adapter_Abstract->query('SET NAMES utf8', Array) #4 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\lib\Varien\Db\Adapter\Pdo\Mysql.php(333): Zend_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Abstract->query('SET NAMES utf8', Array) #5 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Resource\Type\Db\Pdo\Mysql.php(45): Varien_Db_Adapter_Pdo_Mysql->query('SET NAMES utf8') #6 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Resource.php(93): Mage_Core_Model_Resource_Type_Db_Pdo_Mysql->getConnection(Object(Mage_Core_Model_Config_Element)) #7 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Mysql4\Abstract.php(297): Mage_Core_Model_Resource->getConnection('core_read') #8 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Mysql4\Abstract.php(312): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Abstract->_getConnection('read') #9 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Mysql4\Cache.php(41): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Abstract->_getReadAdapter() #10 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Cache.php(424): Mage_Core_Model_Mysql4_Cache->getAllOptions() #11 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Cache.php(459): Mage_Core_Model_Cache->_initOptions() #12 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\App.php(1100): Mage_Core_Model_Cache->canUse('config') #13 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Config.php(404): Mage_Core_Model_App->useCache('config') #14 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\Config.php(286): Mage_Core_Model_Config->_canUseCacheForInit() #15 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\App.php(359): Mage_Core_Model_Config->loadModulesCache() #16 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\code\core\Mage\Core\Model\App.php(295): Mage_Core_Model_App->_initModules() #17 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\app\Mage.php(596): Mage_Core_Model_App->run(Array) #18 C:\UniServer\www\phamba\index.php(78): Mage::run('', 'store') #19 {main} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the setting in the local.xml file that associates the path for mysql.sock is pointed at /tmp/mysql.sock when I change it too say 127.0.0.1 then I get a bad host name Invalid host. I have tried numerous variations and all the other settings are correct including core_conf in magneto to reflect the virtual domain name. Any ideas? Thanks! Also, there is nothing in logs. I think it comes down to the way it tries to connect to the socket. Any idea?