Configure MySQL for Remote Access on Ubuntu 14.04

After installing MySQL on Ubuntu 14.04, this tutorial explains how to configure it for remote connections.

1. The MySQL configuration file is located at /etc/mysql/my.cnf. It contains settings such as the user, listening port, and data directory.

2. Use cat /etc/mysql/my.cnf to view the file; the default bind-address is 127.0.0.1, which restricts connections to the local machine.

3. Edit my.cnf with vi or vim and change bind-address to 0.0.0.0 to allow external IPs.

4. Restart MySQL to apply changes: sudo service mysql restart.

5. Verify the MySQL process is running.

6. Find the server’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.255.131) with ifconfig and open Navicat.

7. Create a new connection in Navicat; the test will fail because remote privileges have not been granted.

8. Grant remote access using the SQL command:

grant all privileges on *.* to 'root'@'%' identified by '123456' with grant option;

9. Refresh privileges with flush privileges;.

10. Test the connection again in Navicat; it should now succeed.

11. The remote database appears in Navicat, and you can now manage it from the GUI.

12. Double‑click the connection to view database details and operate remotely.

With these steps, MySQL on Ubuntu is configured for remote access and can be managed through Navicat.