Trying to use MySQL Workbench with TCP/IP over SSH - failed to connect

I can't connect using TCP/IP over SSH connection in MySQL Workbench from a PC. What's going on?

I created a MySQL 5.1 database on an Ubuntu server mysql.myhost.com. I can access it locally. MySQL Workbench (PC) offers to make a connection via TCP over ssh. It runs on port 3306 on the remote server where command-line mysql works fine.

I used the following session details:

• Connection Method: TCP/IP over SSH.

• SSH Hostname: mysql.myhost.com:3306

• SSH username: my linux login

• SSH public key file: my local public key file

• MySQL hostname: 127.0.0.1 MySQL

• Server Port: 3306

• Username: root

I get an error message when I try to connect:
"Failed to connect to MySQL at 127.0.0.1:3306 through SSH tunnel at mysql.myhost.com with user root"

"Can't connect to MySQL server on '127.0.0.1' (10061)"

As another test - I set up a SSH tunnel with port 3306 using Putty and I can connect OK using MySQL Workbench through that tunnel which forwards connections to my local 3306 to the remote server as described above. But I can't get "TCP/IP over SSH" working in Workbench.

Secondary question: when Workbench asks for "Path to SSH public key file" doesn't it really need my private key file?

I stumbled upon this question when I myself had encountered this error. I could finally figure out the configuration.

• I didn't touch anything in /etc/mysql/my.cnf which already has bind_address = 127.0.0.1. So only localhost can connect.

• I use OpenSSH server. So in its config file /etc/ssh/sshd_config I changed from no to yes the param responsible for TCP forwarding, thus AllowTcpForwarding yes.

-
Finally I have the following entered in MySQL WorkBench.

• SSH Hostname: 192.168.0.8:22 (my SSH server listens to port 22)

• SSH Username: sshuser

• SSH Key File: C:\Users\windowsuser\.ssh\id_rsa (should be private key, even though it says public)

• MySQL Hostname: 127.0.0.1 (this should not be changed, since MySQL server by default is bound to localhost only which I didn't change)

• MySQL Server Port: 3306 (also default)

• Username: root

The only remaining thing for you is to configure correctly your SSH server to work with keys rather than passwords. Hope this will help someone.

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#3489, answer score: 37