Remote access to a MySQL database?

Question

There is a MySQL database(MySQL Server 5.0) stored in my server.

I need to access this server remotely using my laptop. If I install MySQL Server 5.0 in my laptop whats the procedure that I need to follow to access the table stored in the database?

Also, what modifications do i need to do in the server side to let it know that I will remotely access it using my laptop?.

(I have heard of MySQL 'client' type of programmes that I can use. Plz explain)

Answer 1

You don't say what you actually want to do with the database.

Do you just want to log in and run SQL commands? If so, the best way would be just to use a login shell into your server - say, SSH - and then run mysql from there.

Alternatively, you could install phpMyAdmin on your server, which gives you access to the data via the web.

If you want to create a website using the database on your server, you shouldn't need remote access: the website code will run on the server itself, so won't access it remotely.

In any case, I can't think of a reason you would need MySQL server on your laptop if you just want to access the remote database. As the name implies, that's for acting as a server, not a client. However, if you're doing development, you may find it easier to install MySQL and copy the database locally, and write/test your code against that, rather than having to access the remote db all the time. Then, when it's ready, you can upload your code to the server and get it to access the database there.

Answer 2

The best MySQL client that I know is Navicat. It's excellent and very easy to use:

http://www.navicat.com/

In your server you need to allow external access to your database. This depends on how your control panel do this.

For example in CPanel you do this:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on the home page.

2. Enter the domain name or IP number of the host that you wish to add in the Host field.

3. Click on the Add Host button.

4. enter your IP address in the Host field