Start the mysql command line client by running: mysql -u root -p Enter the mysql root user's password when prompted. To configure the MySQL database, create the nova database. mysql> CREATE DATABASE nova; Create a MySQL user for the newly-created nova database that has full control of the database. mysql> GRANT ALL ON nova.* TO 'nova'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword'; Enter quit at the mysql> prompt to exit MySQL. mysql> quit The database will be populated after running the nova-manage db sync command.