Trying to help someone with a database problem

The server reports that it can not connect to /tmp/mysql.sock.  mysql.sock does exist.  making changes to my.cnf for [client] did not help; pointing it to a different location for mysql.sock did not help, it reported could not connect..  On trying to restart the mysql server, the server reports [FAIL] can not stop mysql server.  Issuing a start command returns that mysql server is already running.  Can not connect to the mysql server using phpMyAdmin.  Oh, the server is a Ubuntu.