lower_case_table_names Settings in MySQL 8.0.12

So far, I can get it to work with a workaround (I originally posted on askubuntu): by re-initializing MySQL with the new value for lower_case_table_names after its installation. The following steps apply to a new installation. If you have already data in a database, export it first to import it back later:

1. Install MySQL:

   sudo apt-get update    
   sudo apt-get install mysql-server -y
   

2. Stop the MySQL service:

   sudo service mysql stop
   

3. Delete the MySQL data directory:

   sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql
   

4. Recreate the MySQL data directory (yes, it is not sufficient to just delete its content):

   sudo mkdir /var/lib/mysql    
   sudo chown mysql:mysql /var/lib/mysql
   sudo chmod 700 /var/lib/mysql
   

5. Add lower_case_table_names = 1 to the [mysqld] section in /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf.
6. Re-initialize MySQL with --lower_case_table_names=1:

   sudo mysqld --defaults-file=/etc/mysql/my.cnf --initialize --lower_case_table_names=1 --user=mysql --console
   

7. Start the MySQL service:

   sudo service mysql start
   

8. Retrieve the new generated password for MySQL user root:

   sudo grep 'temporary password' /var/log/mysql/error.log
   

9. Change the password of MySQL user root either by:

   sudo mysql -u root -p
   

   and executing:

   ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'MyNewPa$$w0rd';
   

   afterwards, OR by calling the "hardening" script anyway:

   sudo mysql_secure_installation
   

After that, you can verify the lower_case_table_names setting by entering the MySQL shell:

sudo mysql -u root -p

and executing:

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'lower_case_%';

Expected output:

+------------------------+-------+
| Variable_name          | Value |
+------------------------+-------+
| lower_case_file_system | OFF   |
| lower_case_table_names | 1     |
+------------------------+-------+

As per this link, lower_case_table_names should be set together with --initialize option.

MySQL Documentation says

lower_case_table_names can only be configured while initializing the server. Changing the lower_case_table_names setting after the server is initialized is prohibited.

https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/identifier-case-sensitivity.html