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Connecting to the MySQL Server

For a Client program to be able to connect to the MySQL server, it must use the proper connection

parameters, such as the name of the host where the server is running and the user name and

password of your MySQL account. Each connection parameter has a default value, but you can

override them as necessary using program options specified either on

the command linę or in an option

file.

The examples here use the mysąl Client program, but the principles apply to other clients such as

mysąldump, mysąladmin, or mysqlshow.

This command invokes mysql without specifying any connection parameters explicitly:

Shell >inysql

Because there are no parameter options, the default values apply:

• The default host name is localhost. On Unix, this has a special meaning, as described later.

• The default user name is ODBC on Windows or your Unix login name on Unix.

• No password is sent if neither -p nor —password [221] is given.

• For mysql, the first nonoption argument is taken as the name of the default database. If there is no

such option, mysql does not select a default database.

To specify the host name and user name explicitly, as well as a password, supply appropriate options on the command linę:

shell>inysql —host=localhost —user=rnynaine --password=raypass mydb shell>raysql -h localhost -u my name -pmypass rrtydb

For password options, the password value is optional:

• If you use a -p or —password [221] option and specify the password value, there must be no

space between -p or —password= [221] and the password following it.

• If you use a -p or —password [221] option but do not specify the password value, the Client

program prompts you to enter the password. The password is not displayed as you enter it. This is

morę secure than giving the password on the command linę. Other users on your system may be

able to see a password specified on the command linę by executing a command such as ps auxw.

See Section 6.1.2.1, “End-User Guidelines for Password Security”.