networking - How to access MySQL from a remote computer (not localhost)?

Question

I have my dev environment set up as a Ubuntu Server (with LAMP installation) inside a vmware. The vmware is running on my local windows 7 machine. When I try to access my mysql server via HeidiSQL program the connection fails. I get a:

Server Error 2003, can't connect to mysql server on <IP ADRESS HERE>

I can however access the db server via PhpMyAdmin. MySQL is running and my connection credentials and port are all correct.

I read that you should enter the IPs of the computer you are trying to connect from as the "bind address" in the my.cnf file. Which I did. I tried both the internal network IP as well as the online IP. Still no luck, same message.

Since this isn't a production environment I would ideally like to allow anyone to access that server, not limit it by IP. Especially since my ISP assigns dynamic IPS. So I would have to change it all the time, assuming that even works.

So does anyone know how I can connect to my MySQL server from a remote computer?

P.S. I assume this is something developers have to deal with that's why I posted it here and not Super User. If it must be migrated please send it to Server Fault not Super User.

Answer 1

Ok, be aware this gives the world and his dog access to your mysql server.

GRANT ALL ON *.* to '%'@'%' WITH GRANT OPTION;

But say you are on your home network of 192.168.1.2/16 then you can at least limit it like this.

GRANT ALL ON *.* to '%'@'192.168.%' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Another option is that you have a user and password but want to connect from anywhere

GRANT ALL ON *.* to 'mysecretuser'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'mysecretpassword' WITH GRANT OPTION;