Before I proceed to my question, I just want to say hello to everyone, this is my first post here at LQ

Well, here it is...

I'm try to setup a database server using mysql, the server starts fine, and I can access it using the built in mysql client via console (adding databases and tables works fine), but the problem is... I always get a connection refused error whenever I access the database outside the built in mysql client (example, if I write a code that connects to mysql). So, I tried execute an nmap command and the only ports open are these ports:

PORT STATE SERVICE
22/tcp open ssh
37/tcp open time
113/tcp open auth
6000/tcp open X11
45100/tcp open unknown

there's no 3306 for mysql...

I'm thinking that the firewall is just blocking the port that mysql is using, but my question is, how could the built in client connect to the server if there's no open port for mysql server? Don't clients usually access a servers through ports?

I would appreciate it very much If someone could help me with my problem.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I'm using the mysql server bundled with Slackware 13.0, I think its version 5.0.84.

Hi

It depends a bit on how MySQL is configured. You should look at the configuration file "/etc/mysql/my.cnf".

The default is meant to be secure. Some versions might have skip-networking, but that's not very common anymore. But it is common to have "bind-address = 127.0.0.1". This means you can connect to it at localhost, but not using the server's ip address. So you can't connect to it from other computers by default. Change it to "bind-address= 0.0.0.0" for it to listen on all ip-addresses.

Oh I forgot to mention that I'm only accessing it locally on the same compter but it still gives me a connection refuse error.

It could be that "skip-networking" is on. Then the client will have to connect to it using sockets. Instead of ports, you then give it a socket location for connecting, for example "socket = /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock". The mysql console connects to the server like any other program. How it connects should be in the config file. Look under the [client] section.

Thanks for pointing me into the right direction. Maybe that's the reason why the only thing that shows up when I grep the nestat for a running mysql service is this:

bash-3.1# netstat -an | grep mysql
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 2477624 /var/run/mysql/mysql.sock

I'll try to explore that one and post my progress. Thanks a lot.