Simple and secure MySQL database management using SSH
I manage a number of MySQL databases on a daily basis. While I feel more at home on the command-line and am used to manipulating MySQL databases using the standard mysql CLI tool- others may be more comfortable with using their GUI based tools. I get many requests to open up the database for remote access. For a test or development environment, this is OK - but I usually deny this request for production servers unless the connection being made will be secured in some way. MySQL databases are not typically setup securely (it can be, with SSL) and the connection is sent over the wire in the clear; this means an attacker can assemble the packets and playback what was being transferred. Most of the time, the connection to the MySQL database is made locally by applications running on the same server so this is of little concern. But there is a simple and convenient solution to allowing access in insecure environments. On Linux and Mac systems, you can do the following: ssh
