How to configure mysql server?

[Tom Brown]

> [tim at alfred ~]$ mysql -u root
> ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using
> password: NO)
> [tim at alfred ~]$ su
> Password:
> [root at alfred tim]# mysql -u root
> ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using
> password: NO)
> [root at alfred tim]#

seems there is a MySQL root pwd set - in that case use

mysql -u root -pyourpasswordhere

or leave off the yourpasswordhere and it will prompt you for it when you 
hit enter