clean install failure (freeBSD 6.1)

hi,

I am new to MODx, downloaded and installed the latest 0.9.6.1 version
a few days ago to a separate local server running

freeBSD 6.1
apache22
php 5.2.5
mySQL 5.0.27

everything seems to work just fine until the install
script comes to the "Creating connection ..." row, then
the installation stops and nothing more happends

any idea what could be wrong?



Pre-install validation

Setup has carried out a number of checks to see if everything’s ready to start the setup.

Checking PHP version: OK!

Checking if sessions are properly configured: OK!

Checking if assets/cache directory exists: OK!

Checking if assets/cache directory is writable: OK!

Checking if assets/cache/siteCache.idx.php file is writable: OK!

Checking if assets/cache/sitePublishing.idx.php file is writable: OK!

Checking if assets/images directory exists: OK!

Checking if assets/images directory is writable: OK!

Checking if assets/export directory exists: OK!

Checking if assets/export directory is writable: OK!

Checking if manager/includes/config.inc.php exists and is writable: OK!

Creating connection to the database:

Definitely sounds like a problem connecting to the database server. Did you create the database ahead of time, or are you attempting to allow the installer to create the database? Do you have proper permissions on the database? Is the mysql extension properly configured in PHP?

right on, OpenGeek

there was no mySql installed in my PHP5,
once I got the extension in place MODx
was installed in just a few seconds

thanks a lot!