$ cat /etc/lsb-release
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=10.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=lucid
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS"

$ mysql_install_db --datadir=/opt/mysql/
Installing MySQL system tables...
110609 20:59:26 [Warning] Can't create test file /opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test
110609 20:59:26 [Warning] Can't create test file /opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test

Installation of system tables failed!  Examine the logs in
/opt/mysql/ for more information.
...

+ mysqld_install_cmd_line='/usr/sbin/mysqld  --language=/usr/share/mysql/english --bootstrap   --basedir=/usr --datadir=/opt/mysql/ --log-warnings=0 --loose-skip-innodb   --loose-skip-ndbcluster  --user=mysql --max_allowed_packet=8M   --default-storage-engine=myisam   --net_buffer_length=16K'
+ s_echo 'Installing MySQL system tables...'
+ test 0 -eq 0 -a 0 -eq 0
+ echo 'Installing MySQL system tables...'
Installing MySQL system tables...
+ /usr/sbin/mysqld --language=/usr/share/mysql/english --bootstrap --basedir=/usr --datadir=/opt/mysql/ --log-warnings=0 --loose-skip-innodb --loose-skip-ndbcluster --user=mysql --max_allowed_packet=8M --default-storage-engine=myisam --net_buffer_length=16K
+ echo 'use mysql;'
+ cat /usr/share/mysql/mysql_system_tables.sql /usr/share/mysql/mysql_system_tables_data.sql
110609 21:04:14 [Warning] Can't create test file /opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test
110609 21:04:14 [Warning] Can't create test file /opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test
+ eval cat
++ cat
+ echo

+ echo 'Installation of system tables failed!  Examine the logs in'
Installation of system tables failed!  Examine the logs in
+ echo '/opt/mysql/ for more information.'
/opt/mysql/ for more information.

stat64("/usr/share/mysql/charsets/Index.xml", {st_mode=S_IFREG|0644, st_size=18261, ...}) = 0
brk(0x22064000)                         = 0x22064000
open("/usr/share/mysql/charsets/Index.xml", O_RDONLY|O_LARGEFILE) = 3
read(3, "..., 18261) = 18261
close(3)                                = 0 
unlink("/opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.LOWER-TEST") = -1 ENOENT (No such file or directory)
open("/opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test", O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_LARGEFILE, 0666) = -1 EACCES (Permission denied)
time(NULL)                              = 1307624820
write(2, "110609 21:07:00 [Warning] Can't "..., 84110609 21:07:00 [Warning] Can't create test file /opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test
) = 84
unlink("/opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.LOWER-TEST") = -1 ENOENT (No such file or directory)
open("/opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test", O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_LARGEFILE, 0666) = -1 EACCES (Permission denied)
time(NULL)                              = 1307624820
write(2, "110609 21:07:00 [Warning] Can't "..., 84110609 21:07:00 [Warning] Can't create test file /opt/mysql/zzzhc-laptop.lower-test
) = 84