This line tells the server to keep safe_mysqld running constantly.   What the safe_mysqld application does is check to see if mySQLd is running and IF it is not,

Start up the daemon.   The very first time you start safe_mysqld, it will immediately realize that mysqld is not up and running and will therefore start it.

IF the above line does not work, try ./bin/safe_mysqld or go into the bin directory and type safe_mysqld or ./safe_mysqld.

IF mysqld fails to satrt, make note of the error message displayed and refer to " TroubleShooting ", for more help, as this is a most common occurrence.

  mysqld, the standard server

  mysqld-opt, a version for optimized performance

  mysqld-nt, similar to mysqld except that more specific to the NT family of Windows

  mysqld-max, like the mysqld-opt, but made to support the InnDB and DBD table types.  

                     These other table types are more advance in every way possible.   

                     Borland InterBase, uses the InnDB database type

  [mysqld]

  basedir=C:\mysql

  datadir=C:\mysql/data

This is just the basis of a configuration file.  These two(2) important pieces of information tell the MySQL server both wehre the MySQL files are located (basedir) and where the database files are (datadir).

     ex.: 

         cd c:\mysql\bin

         mysqld --standalone

IF you are not using an NT version of Windows, you can start MySQL with just the mysqld command