I cannot get MySQL working. Can someone please help? I have changed permissions on the /var/lib/msql directory and I still can't get it started.

Running Suse Linux Enterprise Server 9

# mysql -V
mysql Ver 12.22 Distrib 4.0.18, for suse-linux (i686)

# mysql start
ERROR 2002: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)

I have checked /var/lib/mysql and there is no mysql.sock. I created one with full permissions.

my.cnf
-------------------------------------
# The following options will be passed to all MySQL clients
[client]
password = password
port = 3306
socket = /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock

# Here follows entries for some specific programs

# The MySQL server
[mysqld]
port = 3306
socket = /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock
skip-locking
key_buffer = 16M
max_allowed_packet = 1M
table_cache = 64
sort_buffer_size = 512K
net_buffer_length = 8K
myisam_sort_buffer_size = 8M