MySQL Forums :: Install :: ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)

A nice chap called Mr Branham once posted his fix for this problem which is as follows:

"I received this error when attempting to connect to a mysql db using the C API. I was using "localhost" for the server address and changed it to the IP address (not 127.0.0.1 but 10.192.1.25, for example) and the connection succeeded."

Problem is, being a complete and utter newbie to Linux, I haven't a clue how to do as he says...

Can anyone out there explain (preferably in single syllables) how this amazing feat is done?

Thank you for your attention.