Написал значение в $cfg['blowfish_secret'] не помогло.
Почему то файл config.sample.inc имел расширение .phpl - в конце буква "l" (русская "л"), то есть config.sample.inc.phpl - переменовал его config.inc.php, содержимое ниже
<?php
/* $Id: config.sample.inc.php,v 2.1.2.2 2006/08/28 08:14:14 nijel Exp $ */
// vim: expandtab sw=4 ts=4 sts=4:
/**
* phpMyAdmin sample configuration, you can use it as base for
* manual configuration. For easier setup you can use scripts/setup.php
*
* All directives are explained in Documentation.html and on phpMyAdmin
* wiki <http://wiki.cihar.com>.
*/
/*
* This is needed for cookie based authentication to encrypt password in
* cookie
*/
$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'zdfSGfghHGYswexfkpDs'; /* YOU MUST FILL IN THIS FOR COOKIE AUTH! */
/*
* Servers configuration
*/
$i = 0;
/*
* First server
*/
$i++;
/* Authentication type */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user'] = 'myname';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password'] = 'mypassword'; // use here your password
/* Server parameters */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'myhost';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['connect_type'] = 'tcp';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['compress'] = false;
/* Select mysqli if your server has it */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['extension'] = 'mysql';
/* User for advanced features */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controluser'] = 'pmausr';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass'] = 'pmapass';
/* Advanced phpMyAdmin features */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['pmadb'] = 'phpmyadmin';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['bookmarktable'] = 'pma_bookmark';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['relation'] = 'pma_relation';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_info'] = 'pma_table_info';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_coords'] = 'pma_table_coords';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['pdf_pages'] = 'pma_pdf_pages';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['column_info'] = 'pma_column_info';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['history'] = 'pma_history';
/*
* End of servers configuration
*/
/*
* Directories for saving/loading files from server
*/
$cfg['UploadDir'] = '';
$cfg['SaveDir'] = '';
?>