This tutorial explains the way to add a remote host in cPanel so that your MySQL® databases can be accessed by external servers or applications. The IP address or hostname of the remote host needs to be specifically defined in cPanel in order to connect successfully.
What is a Remote Host in cPanel?
An external server or system that is permitted to access your MySQL databases housed on the cPanel server is known as a remote host. MySQL only allows local connections by default. The addition of a remote host allows safe database access from a specific IP address or fully qualified domain name (FQDN).
Remote MySQL access is commonly used when:
- Your website and database are hosted on different servers.
- An external application needs database access.
- You are connecting from a development or backup server.
Steps to Add a Remote Host in cPanel:
Follow the steps below to add a remote host for MySQL database access:
- Log in to cPanel.
- Navigate to the Databases section.
- Click on Remote Database Access.
- On the Remote Database Access, locate the Host (% wildcard is allowed) field.
- Enter the remote host’s IP address or hostname (for example, 192.168.1.10 or remote.example.com).
Note: The IP address or hostname must be accurate. Wildcards (%) may be used if required, but are not recommended for security reasons. - (Optional) Enter a Comment to identify the remote host.
- Click the Add Host button.
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A success message will appear once the host is added successfully.
Note: The remote host’s IP address or hostname must be correctly defined in the Host field to allow MySQL access.
Important Notes
- Confirm that the MySQL service is running on the remote server.
- The remote server’s firewall must allow outgoing connections to the MySQL port (default: 3306).
- Only add trusted IP addresses or hostnames to prevent unauthorised access.
By defining the remote host’s IP address or hostname in cPanel, you can securely allow external systems to access your MySQL databases. Always verify the connection details and follow security best practices when enabling remote MySQL access.
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our support team.
Also Read: How to add MySQL access hosts in WHM