How to set up a remote MySQL connection

This article describes how to use a local computer to connect to your MySQL databases stored remotely on Webhost.Berlin servers.

Choose a remote MySQL connection method

You can use either of the following methods to access your MySQL databases remotely:

• SSH tunnel: This is the more secure method. You set up an SSH tunnel that forwards a port on your local computer to the remote MySQL server. The MySQL traffic is encrypted by the SSH tunnel.
• Direct connection: You can set up a direct connection between your local computer and the remote MySQL server. Although it is easier to configure, it is not as secure.

After you have set up a remote MySQL connection, you can use a MySQL client application to manage your databases. For more information, please see this article.

Method #1: Set up an SSH tunnel

The procedure you follow to set up an SSH tunnel between your local computer and the Webhost.Berlin server depends on the local computer's operating system.

RedHat Linux

In order to use an SSH tunnel on a computer running RedHat Linux, you need an SSH client program. Webhost.Berlin recommends using PuTTY, which you can download here. After you have downloaded the PuTTY executable to your local computer, you can set up an SSH tunnel.

To set up an SSH tunnel on a computer running RedHat Linux:

1. Start PuTTY.
2. In the Category pane, expand Connection, expand SSH, and then click Tunnels.
3. In the Source port text box of the Port Forwarding section, type 3306.  This is the local port to forward.
   If you are running a MySQL server on your local computer, you might have to change the port number of the local server (for example, to 3307) to avoid port conflicts. Alternatively, you can stop the local MySQL server to allow forwarding on port 3306.
4. In the Destination text box, type localhost:3306.
5. Confirm that the Local and Auto radio buttons are selected.
6. Click Add.
7. In the Category pane, click Session.
8. In the Host Name (or IP address) text box, type your web site's domain name or IP address.
9. In the Port text box, type 7822.
10. Confirm that the Connection type radio button is set to SSH.
11. Click Open.
12. If a PuTTY security alert about the server's host key appears, click Yes.
13. When the login as prompt appears, type your Webhost.Berlin username, and then type your password.
14. When the remote server's command line prompt appears, the SSH tunnel is established and you can use your MySQL client applications on the local computer.
    To verify that PuTTY is forwarding ports correctly, you can click the icon in the top-left corner of the PuTTY session window, and then click Event Log. If port forwarding is working correctly, you see a line similar to:
    Local port 3306 forwarding to localhost:3306

Mac OS X and Linux

To establish an SSH tunnel on a computer running Mac OS X or Linux:

1. Open a terminal window and type the following command at the command line. Replace username with your Webhost.Berlin username, and example.com with your site's domain name:

   ssh -p 7822 

   The number before localhost is the port number at the local end of the tunnel. The number after localhost is the port number at the remote (server) end of the tunnel. If you are running a MySQL server on your local computer, you might have to change the first 3306 to another port number (for example, 3307) to avoid port conflicts.
2. Type your password, and then press ENTER. When the remote server's command line prompt appears, the SSH tunnel is established and you can use your MySQL client applications on the local computer.

Method #2: Set up a direct connection

To set up a direct connection between your local computer and the MySQL server, you must enable remote MySQL access in cPanel. For information about how to do this, please see this article.

More Information

To view the online documentation for PuTTY, please visit http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/0.60/htmldoc/index.html.

Related Articles

• MySQL client applications

  You can use MySQL client applications to manage your MySQL databases remotely. These client applications are often faster and easier to use than cPanel or the command line.

• Remote MySQL access

  You can use cPanel to configure remote access to your MySQL databases. With remote access enabled, external hosts can access your MySQL databases.

• Connecting to MySQL from the command line

  You use the mysql program to connect directly to MySQL from the command line. Learn how here.

• Import and export a MySQL database

  Learn how to import and export a MySQL database. If you already have a database that you want to install on an Webhost.Berlin server, or you want to back up your database, this article shows you how.