Why can't I connect to a remote MySQL database?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
how to understand “can't connect” mysql error messages?

I have attempted to follow just about every tutorial I could find on this subject, to no avail. I'm trying to connect to a remote MySQL database through PHP, but it seems like the connection is timing out or something. This is my PHP code:

$link = mysql_connect('remote-server-ip:3306', $username, $password);
if($link){
    echo "Connected.";
}else{
    echo "Not connected: ".mysql_error();
}

When I browse to that page, it loads for about 30 seconds before displaying this:

Warning: mysql_connect(): Can't connect to MySQL server on 'remote-server-ip' (4) in /var/www/vhosts/*****/httpdocs/*****/*****.php on line 6

Here's what I've done on the remote server to try to allow this connection:

Added IPtables rules to allow connections from my server.
Set my.cnf to listen to all TCP requests
Added users to my database that can connect from my server's IP

Still nothing seems to be working. I could really use some help here.

@DC_: And sticking to functions that are being deprecated is? — Elias Van Ootegem, Oct 08 '12 at 21:51
@EliasVanOotegem This is simply a test file - I usually use PDO. — HellaMad, Oct 08 '12 at 21:53
Firstly, set `default_socket_timeout` to 6 seconds in your local php.ini.. 30 seconds is way too long to wait. :) — deizel., Oct 08 '12 at 21:57
@DC_ That makes no sense. Why not stick to what you normally use instead of *testing* with deprecated functions? — Repox, Oct 08 '12 at 21:57
Is 'remote-server-ip' pingable from the machine where you're running the PHP? — ernie, Oct 08 '12 at 22:00
@davidstrachan That would work if I were trying to connect to my local MySQL server, but I'm not :p — HellaMad, Oct 08 '12 at 23:22
localhost is the host of both my remote servers. Try it & see — david strachan, Oct 09 '12 at 10:04
Solved by using [this PHP Class](http://www.phpclasses.org/package/4000-PHP-Execute-remote-MySQL-queries-across-the-Web.html). It's a workaround, but it works. — HellaMad, Oct 09 '12 at 18:18
Also, I disagree with the close vote. This is definitely not an _exact duplicate_, and the answers on the other question don't answer anything. — HellaMad, Oct 09 '12 at 18:21

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 08 '12 at 21:52

If your waiting a period of time then it's likely the ip is not reachable. Try to ping the MySQL server first. Then try to telnet to it on port 3306. You should get a connection. Then see if you can connect to MySQL from the SQL server itself ie a local connection. Must do the basics first

Why can't I connect to a remote MySQL database?

1 Answers1