Connecting to MySQL DB

Ways of Connecting

==================

prompt> mysql

  # default hostname is localhost

  # default user is current user for Linux and "ODBC" for windows

  # 1st non-option parameter is treated as default database

shell> mysql --host=localhost --user=myname -pMyInsecurepass123 mydb

  # there must be no space between "-p" and the actual password

  # this form is insecure because the password is in cleartext, it is possible

    to be seen in "history" or "ps auxw"

shell> mysql -h network-db.com -u myname -p mydb

  # this will prompt user for password

  # secure compared to the previous

Notes on Credentials

====================

* MySQL doesn't have a limit on password length

* If system library limits password to 8 characters or less, MySQL password

  can be adjusted to adapt to it

* credentials can be set under ~/.my.cnf following this format

[client]
host=localhost  # you can ommit this line
user=root
password=Pass123^^

Choosing Port and Host

======================

You can choose host and port using the following format:

mysql --port=13306 --host=127.0.0.1

You may also store the hostname in MYSQL_HOST environment variable.