Why is the mysql client utility not using the port I specify?
If you are running the mysql client on the same host that the server is running, it is probably making a socket connection, and not using the port at all. Try adding --protocol=TCP
to your command
mysql -uroot --protocol=TCP --port=1234
If you use TCP/IP you should specify the host IP. If the host is localhost, you must use 127.0.0.1 instead.
In other words
mysql -uroot -h127.0.0.1 -P1234 -p (if the root has a password)
mysql -uroot -h127.0.0.1 -P1234 (if the root does not has a password)
Once logged in, run this query to make sure:
SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'port';