MySQL error 51 appears when an option file (my.cnf/my.ini) contains a malformed or duplicate group header, preventing MySQL from starting or reading settings.
MySQL Error 51: EE_INCORRECT_GRP_DEFINITION_IN_CONFIG_FILE means MySQL found a malformed or duplicate group header in your my.cnf file. Fix the error by correcting or removing the bad [group] line, then restart the server.
Wrong group definition in config file %s at line %d. EE_INCORRECT_GRP_DEFINITION_IN_CONFIG_FILE was added in 8.0.13.
MySQL throws error 51 when it parses an option file and encounters a malformed group header or an unexpected token. The message pinpoints the exact file and line number, letting you know which entry breaks the syntax.
The condition name EE_INCORRECT_GRP_DEFINITION_IN_CONFIG_FILE was introduced in MySQL 8.0.13. It can block the server or client utilities from starting, so quick resolution is critical.
MySQL expects group headers in the form [group_name] with no trailing characters.
Missing brackets, extra spaces before the bracket, or duplicate group labels trigger the error.
Another frequent trigger is copy-pasting configuration snippets that use Windows line endings or invisible characters, which MySQL's parser treats as part of the header.
Open the file reported in the error message and navigate to the specified line.
Compare the line with a valid header format, correct spelling, and ensure each group appears only once.
After edits, run mysqld --verbose --help --no-defaults to validate the file without starting the server.
If the command runs without errors, restart MySQL normally.
Duplicate [mysqld] groups: Merge settings into a single [mysqld] section.
Hidden BOM characters: Re-save the file in UTF-8 without BOM using a code editor.
Accidental semicolons: Delete trailing semicolons or stray characters after the closing bracket.
Keep a single canonical option file under version control, review changes via pull requests, and validate syntax with mysqld --help before deployment.
Using Galaxy’s versioned query collections, you can store and share validated configuration snippets, reducing copy-paste errors across teams.
Error 1 (EE_CANTOPEN): Raised when MySQL cannot open an option file.
Verify file path and permissions.
Error 29 (EE_CANTCHMOD): Indicates failure to change file permissions. Check filesystem and user privileges.
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The named condition appears in 8.0.13+, but earlier versions still fail on bad headers; they just show a generic parsing error.
Only one [mysqld] group is allowed per option file. Merge duplicate sections to avoid conflicts.
Run mysqld --verbose --help --no-defaults. If the command returns without errors, the syntax is valid.
No, but Galaxy stores versioned snippets, so you can review and share known-good config blocks, reducing copy-paste mistakes.
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