Cpanel / MySQL Access Hosts

Let's say you're developing a script on your PC at home, and you need to connect to your database remotely using a MySQL admin program. No problem. This procedure is a little quirky, but here are the steps to grant remote access to your database.

(note, if you don't have a database yet, start here)

We'll assume you are using the following information:

database: example_mydb
database user: example_dbuser
IP address given to your computer from your ISP: 1.2.3.4 (how do I find this?∞)
server name∞: server.asmallorange.com (with IP address 5.6.7.8)

Access Hosts

First, login to Cpanel and click MySQL Databases
Then, scroll down to Access Hosts
Enter your IP address (eg, 1.2.3.4) in the field next to Host (% wildcard is allowed):
Click Add Host
You can enter something like 1.2.3.% if you want to allow a range if IP addresses (this is not safe; it will allow anyone in that entire network range to have access to your database if they are able to obtain your password)

Remove User from Database

Currently, the database user only has access through localhost, so you need to force it to recognize the IP address.
Scoll up to the Current Databases and look for the database example_mydb
Careful now, you'll see two delete buttons, one next to the database name (example_mydb) and one under that next to the username (example_dbuser).
Click the Delete next to the database username.
The next screen says:

Click go back.

Add User to Database

Scroll back down to Add Users to Your Databases
Select the user example_dbuser from the drop-down menu on the left and the database example_mydb from the drop-down menu on the right.
Click Add User to Database

Testing your Connection

Now, using your PC and remote MySQL client, enter the connection information for your database, database user, and the server name or IP address.



Back to New User Documentation