Connecting to Databases

[wfernley]

Hello. I seem to be having a problem and I thought I would get more than one person opinion. I have a partner who does my hosting, and I am the webmaster.

I am learning to design dynamic web sites using databases. I have fooled around and I connect to DB's on my IIS server. Well my hoster finally got MySQL working. But I can't connect. He says he has no ports open to it, and says I will have to give him the information in a text file to upload to the database.

I was curious if this is a way he can get more money from me, or is there a secure way of leaving a port open so i can connect to the DB.

Thanks.

Wes

[DylanW]

Not too sure on how to set it up, but a lot of hosts only allow connections to the database from the localhost. This means that you have to either connect to the server by telnet or SSH (a secure type of telnet), or you have to use a web-based front-end like phpMyAdmin. Either way, the database server isn't open to just anybody on the internet.

I would think using the mysql client over SSH would be the most secure way to go.

[wfernley]

Ok how would I go about connecting with SSH with the mysql client. What command would I use?

Thanks again. :)

Wes

[fishy]

wfernley,

if you are going to use mysql, how are you going to retrieve the data, via asp, php, jsp, etc? you could always code an interface to connect to the db so you cano insert, update, delete, etc.

the host would have to provide you with a path to the db so that you can make a connection to it. once that is done you can use a homegrown interface to insert, delete, update, etc. the data.

certainly providing a text file or excel sheet with the data to the host can save a lot of time. you may want to take a look at a host that already has an interface for db interaction, such as CPanel with a cart package(ie. osCommerce).

best,

[Chico_Loco]

Are you sure he won't open a port for you. it's quite normal to have an open port. Ususally the remote host is specified such that only the specified computer can access the database, and even at that you'll need the login info!