can't open mysql

I've had this server running for years but suddenly i get the error

'/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)

when I try to run my website which accesses the mysql server.

If I log into the server and try to log in to msqyl, I get a similar error.


web:~# mysql -u root
ERROR 2002: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)
web:~#


I tried to locate a socket that was open, but the mysql did not appear to be open:
/var/spool/postfix/private/rewrite
/var/spool/postfix/private/bounce
/var/spool/postfix/private/defer
/var/spool/postfix/private/trace
/var/spool/postfix/private/verify
/var/spool/postfix/private/proxymap
/var/spool/postfix/private/smtp
/var/spool/postfix/private/relay
/var/spool/postfix/private/error
/var/spool/postfix/private/local
/var/spool/postfix/private/virtual
/var/spool/postfix/private/lmtp
/var/spool/postfix/private/anvil
/var/spool/postfix/private/maildrop
/var/spool/postfix/private/uucp
/var/spool/postfix/private/ifmail
/var/spool/postfix/private/bsmtp
/var/spool/postfix/private/scalemail-backend
/var/spool/postfix/public/cleanup
/var/spool/postfix/public/flush
/var/spool/postfix/public/showq
/dev/log
/dev/printer


THEN i tried to see if mysql was running and to start it:
web:~# ps aux | grep mysqlps aux | grep mysql
grep: aux: No such file or directory
web:~# /etc/init.d/mysql start
Starting MySQL database server: mysqld...failed.
        Please take a look at the syslog.
/usr/bin/mysqladmin: connect to server at 'localhost' failed
error: 'Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)'
Check that mysqld is running and that the socket: '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' exists!


I have no idea where to go now ...

thanks in advance.