Remote MySQL Access

<h3>Connecting to MySQL from External Applications</h3> <p>By default, MySQL databases on your hosting server only accept connections from <code>localhost</code> (the server itself). If you need to connect from an external application, a remote server, or a local development environment, you must enable remote MySQL access for the connecting IP address.</p> <h3>Enabling Remote Access in DirectAdmin</h3> <ol> <li>Log in to DirectAdmin.</li> <li>Navigate to <strong>Account Manager</strong> or find <strong>MySQL Management</strong>.</li> <li>Click on <strong>Remote MySQL</strong> (or <strong>Remote Database Access</strong>).</li> <li>Enter the IP address of the computer or server that needs to connect.</li> <li>Click <strong>Add Host</strong> or <strong>Submit</strong>.</li> </ol> <div class="alert alert-info">To find your current public IP address, visit <code>https://whatismyip.com</code> from the computer that needs to connect to the database.</div> <h3>Connecting from a Remote Application</h3> <p>Use the following connection details in your remote application or database client:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Hostname:</strong> Your server's IP address or hostname (not <code>localhost</code>).</li> <li><strong>Port:</strong> <code>3306</code> (default MySQL port).</li> <li><strong>Database:</strong> Your database name (e.g., <code>username_dbname</code>).</li> <li><strong>Username:</strong> Your database username (e.g., <code>username_dbuser</code>).</li> <li><strong>Password:</strong> Your database user's password.</li> </ul> <h3>Connecting via MySQL Workbench</h3> <ol> <li>Open MySQL Workbench and click <strong>New Connection</strong>.</li> <li>Enter a connection name for reference.</li> <li>Set the hostname to your server's IP address.</li> <li>Enter the port as <code>3306</code>.</li> <li>Enter your database username.</li> <li>Click <strong>Store in Vault</strong> to save the password.</li> <li>Click <strong>Test Connection</strong> to verify, then <strong>OK</strong> to save.</li> </ol> <h3>Security Considerations</h3> <ul> <li>Only add IP addresses that genuinely need remote access.</li> <li>Remove IP addresses that no longer need access.</li> <li>Never use <code>%</code> (wildcard) to allow access from any IP unless absolutely necessary, as this exposes your database to the entire internet.</li> <li>Use strong, unique passwords for database users that have remote access.</li> <li>Consider using SSH tunneling for a more secure connection method.</li> </ul> <div class="alert alert-warning">If your home or office IP address changes frequently (dynamic IP), you will need to update the remote MySQL access list each time it changes. Consider using a VPN with a static IP for more reliable remote database access.</div>