How to restore MySQL databases from database files?
This is what I do to start the mysql daemon manually. 

I've also included my own my.cnf. By specifying the correct corresponding paths in your system, you should be able to do the same thing. I would also point out that this is a source install, but again, it should apply generally.

Start the daemon like this:


  ./bin/mysqld --defaults-file=./my.cnf


And start the client with: 


  ./bin/mysql -S ./mysql.sock -u root -pdba


Both mysqld and mysql client are launched from the basedir. This can be scripted easily of course.

This is my my.cnf - it's a bit of a mess, but hopefully it should help. I stress that this is not a production server!

[mysqld]
#
# * Basic Settings
#
user        = pol
pid-file    = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/mysqld.pid
socket      = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/mysql.sock
port        = 3306
basedir     = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64
datadir     = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/data
tmpdir      = /tmp
pid-file    = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/mysql.pid
lc-messages-dir = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/share
lc-messages = en_US

general_log     = on
general_log_file= /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/logfile.txt

#log_error   = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/error.log
log-error   = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/error.log

slow_query_log_file = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/slow_query.log
slow_query_log  = 0

explicit-defaults-for-timestamp = TRUE

#language   = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/share/english

# bind-address  = 0.0.0.0 - may not need c.f. host...

sql_mode=NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION,STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY

[client]
port        = 3306
socket      = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/mysqld.sock
host            = 127.0.0.1
user        = pol
# or maybe localhost... cf. bind-address above...

# added from http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.6/en/load-data-local.html
# to allow for abrowse to load data!
#loose-local-infile =   1

local-infile    = 1 -- ignore this, it's a setting for abrowse, an external programme.

[mysqld_safe]
#user       = linehanp
#socket     = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/mysql.sock
#err-log        = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/error.log
#pid-file   = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/mysql.pid
#log_error  = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/error.log
#log-error  = /home/pol/Downloads/mysql/mysql5.6.19/mysql-5.6.19-linux-x86_64/error.log