Using SSH in HeidiSQL and MySQL Query Browser: Encrypting Sessions

This tutorial will help you configure these two important MySQL GUIs to connect and do sessions in the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol. This will ensure that communication to your MySQL server is encrypted. Encrypted communication ensures the integrity and security of your data against unauthorized third party packet sniffers on the Internet.

You can find the HeidiSQL GUI and MySQL Query Browser online at the links shown.

The Basic Requirements

In order to make these MySQL GUIs work with SSH, you should meet the following requirements:

1. You have SSH enabled for your hosting account. Check with your hosting company to see if you have SSH enabled.

2. You have an SSH client. This tutorial uses the Putty SSH Client, which you can download here: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html 

For the Linux version (Ubuntu), you can simply go to Applications -- Ubuntu Software  Center - Internet --- and click Putty SSH Client to install.

3. If you are going to use HeidiSQL, which is an entirely MySQL GUI (there is no need to run commands to work with a database and tables), you can download it here: http://www.heidisql.com/

HeidiSQL is a Windows-based MySQL GUI but will run perfectly in Linux using Wine.

4. If you like the native MySQL GUI which is MySQL Query Browser, you can download it here for Windows: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html and select the Windows version.

If you are using Linux Ubuntu, you can also download it at Applications -- Ubuntu Software  Center - Programming - MySQL Query Browser --- and click it to install.