mysql.sock does not exist until the Daemon is started.  Start up mysql and the
mysql.sock file will show up.  This is true for all distros because it is mysql
creating the .sock file.

>From what I understand it is a raw socket file for programs to make local
connections to the mysql daemon without having to have a network card
installed/configured in the box.

> the file mysql.sock (supposed to be at /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock) is not
> present in any of my new rpm installs yet by default is required to
> start the daemon.  Debian install of mySQL was easy...RedHat is giving
> me fits even after "memorizing" the whole mySQL html manual.
> 
> What is the file for ... pipe? or what is it supposed to contain?