Re: Hash password for mysql above 5.7.6

[Peter Brawley]

1. Before 5.7.6, SET PASSWORD read a non-function-call argument as a hash compatible with the method set in mysql.user.plugin; since, it reads it as plain text and hashes it according to the method listed in mysql.user.plugin.

2. Before 5.7.6 SET PASSWORD was shorthand for …

UPDATE mysql.user SET password=PASSWORD('pswd')
WHERE user='username' AND host='hostname';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Since, 5.7.6, mysql.user.password no longer exists; the function sets mysql.user.authentication_string instead.

3. As of 5.7.6, the function is deprecated: the recommendation is to use Alter User instead.

Seems to me the opaqueness arises mainly from the user-unfriendly contradictions between before & after 5.7.6.