Navicat Connecting to MySQL Database: Complete Guide to Remote Connection, Easy Access to Database from Anywhere

# 1. Basic Connection to MySQL Database with Navicat

Navicat is a powerful database management tool that supports connecting to various database systems, including MySQL. Connecting to a MySQL database is the first step in managing databases with Navicat.

To connect to a MySQL database, the following information is required:

- **Hostname or IP Address:** This is the address of the MySQL server, which can be a hostname or an IP address.
- **Port Number:** This is the port number that the MySQL server listens on, with the default value being 3306.
- **Username:** This is the username for connecting to the MySQL database.
- **Password:** This is the password for connecting to the MySQL database.

The steps to connect to a MySQL database in Navicat are as follows:

1. Open Navicat, click on the "Connection" menu, and select "MySQL".
2. In the "Connection" dialog box, enter the hostname or IP address, port number, username, and password of the MySQL server.
3. Click the "Connect" button, and Navicat will attempt to connect to the MySQL database.
4. If the connection is successful, Navicat will display the MySQL database connection in the left navigation pane.

# 2. Remote Connection to MySQL Database with Navicat

### 2.1 Principle and Configuration of Remote Connection

#### 2.1.1 Principle of SSH Tunnel

An SSH tunnel is a technology that establishes an encrypted channel through the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol, allowing secure data transmission between two computers. When remotely connecting to a MySQL database, an SSH tunnel can be used to encapsulate the connection between the local computer and the remote MySQL server within an encrypted channel, thereby protecting the data from eavesdropping or tampering.

The process of establishing an SSH tunnel is as follows:

1. Start the SSH client on the local computer, specifying the IP address, port, and username of the remote server.
2. The SSH client sends an SSH connection request to the remote server and performs authentication using a pre-configured key or password.
3. Upon successful authentication, the SSH client establishes an encrypted channel between the local computer and the remote server.
4. Local applications (such as Navicat) can connect to the remote MySQL server through the encrypted channel as if directly connected.

#### 2.1.2 Configuring SSH Tunnel in Navicat

The steps to configure an SSH tunnel in Navicat for remotely connecting to a MySQL database are as follows:

1. Open Navicat, create a new MySQL connection.
2. In the "Connection" tab, select the "SSH Tunnel" option.
3. Enter the IP address, port, username, and password of the remote server.
4. Click the "OK" button to save the configuration.

### 2.2 Common Problems with Remote Connections and Solutions

#### 2.2.1 Unable to Connect to the Remote Server

**Reasons:**

* The remote server has not started the SSH service.
* The network connection between the local computer and the remote server is not smooth.
* Authentication between the SSH client and the remote server has failed.

**Solutions:**

* Check if the SSH service on the remote server has been started.
* Check if the network connection between the local computer and the remote server is normal.
* Recheck if the authentication information between the SSH client and the remote server is correct.

#### 2.2.2 Remote Database Access Restricted

**Reasons:**

* The firewall on the remote MySQL server blocks connections from