• Overview of MySQL database.
• Creating/Deleting/Editing Databases and Users
• Connecting to MySQL through Telnet
• Connecting to MySQL through Perl using the MySQL Perl Module
• Connecting to MySQL through PHP
• Restrictions and other information.
• The Official MySQL Documentation

Overview of MySQL database.

The MySQL database server is a very robust, SQL based platform that is provided for use with the standard or higher plans. It is often utilized as a data source for Web sites requiring dynamic content. The languages most often used to interface with the database server are Perl and PHP, however, C, C++, and Python among others may also be used. The official MySQL Web site may be found at: http://www.mysql.com

Creating/Deleting/Editing Databases and Users

All administration of your MySQL databases and users can be done through our convenient web based phpMyAdmin interface. This program is provided to all of our Web hosting customers. It is available in your Control Panel (CP). For help with this tool check out the phpMyAdmin documentation.

Connecting to MySQL through Telnet

Use the following outline to connect and begin querying the MySQL server from a Telnet session.
Remember that you can not connect to your databases remotely due to security concerns, you can only connect from localhost.

1. Connect To The MySQL Server
   bash$ mysql -u USERNAME -p
   Enter Password: PASSWORD
   
2. Connect To The Database
   bash$ use DATABASENAME;
   
3. Receving Help
   bash$ help

Connecting to MySQL through Perl using the MySQLPerl Module

Use the following outline to connect and begin querying the MySQL server from a Perl script.
Remember that you cannot connect to your databases remotely due to security concerns, you can only connect from localhost.

1. Declarations
   You must require the MySQL package for your script to function properly. Do this by including the following line in your code: use mysql;
   
2. Connect To The Database
   Somewhere near the beginning of your script, you need to make your initial connection to the database server. Using the following form, substitute your database, username, and password for the examples to connect successfully. The database must be a valid one that you have created through the phpMyAdmin interface in the CP. The username must be one created in MyAdmin with adequate permissions to the specified database.
   Mysql->connect('localhost','DATABASENAME','USERNAME','USERPASSWORD');
   
3. Executing A Query
   You are now ready to begin querying the database server. Most problems that you may incur will generally occur due to invalid permission settings for the specified user. Remember that you can use our convenient web based MyAdmin interface to view or edit these settings. 

Use the following outline to connect and begin querying the MySQL server from within your PHP scripts. Remember that you cannot connect to your databases remotely due to security reasons. You can only connect to them form localhost.

1. Connect to the MySQL server
   Use the following statement to connect to the database server. Substitute the username, and
   password for ones who have created in the MyAdmin interface and have given adequate
   permissions to this database.
   MYSQL_CONNECT('localhost','USERNAME','PASSWORD');
   
2. Select Your Database
   Use the following statement to select the database you wish to connect to. Make sure you
   substitute the example with your database name.
   @mysql_select_db("DATABASENAME");
   
3. Executing A Query
   You are now ready to execute your queries. Remember that the databases and users used must be created in the MyAdmin interface in your CP. Most problems that arise with your scripts will be due to incorrect permission settings.

Restrictions and other information

The following restrictions are currently affective regarding all of our webhosting accounts:

1. You cannot connect to any of your databases from remote hosts. This limitation is due to security concerns. For now you may only connect from localhost.
   
2. You may not utilize the data-infile data-outfile functions of the MySQL server. This is due to security reasons. 

The Official MySQL Documentation

The official MySQL documentation may be found at: http://www.mysql.com

Other useful information about MySQL may be found at the following locations:

• The MySQL User's Documentation Project
• Developer's Shed

Backing up a MySQL Database

There are two main ways to back up or restore a MySQL database on our servers: via SSH Telnet access or the phpMyAdmin interface.

If you need SSH Telnet access, just send us a ticket with your request to be enabled for it, and if you'd like more information about how to connect to our servers with it, just visit our SSH Telnet support page. To access the phpMyAdmin interface, click on the "mySQL Databases" link and then "phpMyAdmin" on your control panel.

How to back up a mySQL database using SSH Telnet:

Log into your account on our server and issue the following command:

[This is all one command line!]

/usr/bin/mysqldump $databasename -u $user -p$password > /home/$user/file.dump

$ indicates a variable, so instead of entering $user, you'll enter your actual user name for your account. Your mySQL username and password are usually the same as the ones that you use to access your control panel.

For example, your actual command might look like this:

/usr/bin/mysqldump joescars_com -u frankie -p18circ > /home/frankie/joesbackup.sql

How to restore a mySQL database using SSH Telnet:

Log into your account on our server and issue the following command:

mysql $databasename -u $user -p$password < /home/$user/file.dump

How to back up a mySQL database using phpMyAdmin:

Click on your database name shown on the upper left.

Go to the section called "View dump (schema) of database" and choose options for backing up structure only, structure and data, or adding drop tables. To view what your backup file will look like, click on the "Go" button. When you're ready to send your back up to a file, check the send box and click "Go", then follow the prompts for how to name the file and where to send it.

How to restore a mySQL database using phpMyAdmin:

Click on your database name shown on the upper left.

Locate your back up file for the database that you want to restore. Open it and copy the entire contents.

Paste into the field called "Run SQL query/queries on database yourdomain_com" and click the "Go" button.