MySQL case sensitive table names on Linux

Just altering the lower_case_table_names setting isn't enough. It needs to be done before you import your database(s).

The MySQL 5.1 documentation lists a procedure for moving between Windows and Linux/UNIX. This will ensure that your desired rules for enforcing case sensitivity are followed. Take a look and verify that you did these steps in the correct order:

To convert one or more entire databases, dump them before setting lower_case_table_names, then drop the databases, and reload them after setting lower_case_table_names:

1 - Use mysqldump to dump each database:

mysqldump --databases db1 > db1.sql

mysqldump --databases db2 > db2.sql

... Do this for each database that must be recreated.

2 - Use DROP DATABASE to drop each database.

3 - Stop the server, set lower_case_table_names in the [mysqld] section of your \etc\mysql\my.cnf file, and restart the server.

4 - Reload the dump file for each database. Because lower_case_table_names is set, each database and table name will be converted to lowercase as it is recreated:

mysql < db1.sql

mysql < db2.sql