External web access to mysql

Hello all,

Newbie here...

I have a question relating to accessing a database from outside a web
hosting environment.

Here is the scenario: a doctor collects information on his website
regarding patients. Later, he wants to query the database for similar
symptoms, etc.

With MS SqlServer, the web host provider has the MS-SQL server port blocked
for "outside" access. So, the doctor can't link his Excel select statements
to the MS-SQL database. ( The blocking is a policy of the web hosting
company).

The same web host company also provides mysql/php access, which I have no
experience...

My question then: Will the doctor be able to link to the mysql database
from his home PC - outside of the host company firewall? In other words,
what is required to communicate to an mysql database from a client? Is it
access thru the file system or is there a comm port involved?

Could I write PHP scripting to access the mysql database on the website?

I guess the doctor is a "little" technical and wants to dabble/play with
some of the scripting as well...

Thanks,
bruce

nospam wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Newbie here...
>
> I have a question relating to accessing a database from outside a web
> hosting environment.
>
> Here is the scenario: a doctor collects information on his website
> regarding patients. Later, he wants to query the database for similar
> symptoms, etc.
>
> With MS SqlServer, the web host provider has the MS-SQL server port blocked
> for "outside" access. So, the doctor can't link his Excel select statements
> to the MS-SQL database. ( The blocking is a policy of the web hosting
> company).
>
> The same web host company also provides mysql/php access, which I have no
> experience...
>
> My question then: Will the doctor be able to link to the mysql database
> from his home PC - outside of the host company firewall? In other words,
> what is required to communicate to an mysql database from a client? Is it
> access thru the file system or is there a comm port involved?
>
> Could I write PHP scripting to access the mysql database on the website?
>
> I guess the doctor is a "little" technical and wants to dabble/play with
> some of the scripting as well...
>
> Thanks,
> bruce
>
>
>
>

He could do it directly if the hosting company has port 3306 open. But
many hosting companies don't allow it, for security reasons.

But you could very easily write a script in PHP, Perl or other
server-side languages to do it. It shouldn't be hard at all, depending
on what he wants.

Speaking of security - since this is medical-related information, if
you're in the U.S. ensure you're familiar with HIPAA laws. You could
face a huge fine and/or get free room and board for a few years if you
work on the site and there's a HIPAA violation.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

On 7 Sep, 03:25, "nospam" <n...@spam.org> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Newbie here...
>
> I have a question relating to accessing a database from outside a web
> hosting environment.
>
> Here is the scenario: a doctor collects information on his website
> regarding patients. Later, he wants to query the database for similar
> symptoms, etc.
>
> With MS SqlServer, the web host provider has the MS-SQL server port blocked
> for "outside" access. So, the doctor can't link his Excel select statements
> to the MS-SQL database. ( The blocking is a policy of the web hosting
> company).
>
> The same web host company also provides mysql/php access, which I have no
> experience...
>
> My question then: Will the doctor be able to link to the mysql database
> from his home PC - outside of the host company firewall? In other words,
> what is required to communicate to an mysql database from a client? Is it
> access thru the file system or is there a comm port involved?
>
> Could I write PHP scripting to access the mysql database on the website?
>
> I guess the doctor is a "little" technical and wants to dabble/play with
> some of the scripting as well...
>
> Thanks,
> bruce

Using MySQL Connector/ODBC 3.51, one can query a MySQL database
straight into Excel or for a Word Mail Merge.