---
title: "Nexcess: MySQL & IP Whitelisting for Remote Access"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-magento/database-management/whitelist-ips/"
description: "It’s possible to allow MySQL remote connections from any host. Learn how to whitelist MySQL host IP. Grant MySQL remote access with this article."
vertical: "Sites & Stores"
date: "2022-02-17"
last_modified: "2026-07-23"
---

# Nexcess: MySQL & IP Whitelisting for Remote Access

1. Log in to **[sites-portal.nexcess.com](https://sites-portal.nexcess.com/)**
2. Navigate to the **Control Panel** page.
3. Launch the **SiteWorx Control Panel** and then submit the IP address to whitelist.

**Overview**

Are you looking to allow remote connections to your **MySQL** server? See how you can easily accomplish that task when on a [](https://www.nexcess.net/magento/#pricing-link)[**Magento Plan**](https://www.liquidweb.com/magento-hosting/#pricing-link) or [**Flexible Cloud Plan**](https://www.liquidweb.com/cloud-hosting/cloud-website-hosting/#cloud-pricing) from **[**Nexcess**](https://www.liquidweb.com/managed-hosting-services/?NxDirect=1)**.

If you are on a Magento Plan or **Flexible Cloud Plan**, you can remotely connect to the **MySQL** server by allowing an IP address via the IP whitelisting process using the **Cloud SiteWorx Control Panel**.

Connections to remote databases are an essential requirement for many projects. However, on **Nexcess** servers, remote connections to **MySQL** are not allowed due to security risks inherent in servers and applications. Due to this policy, all IP addresses are blocked by default.

The purpose of allowing remote **MySQL** connections is to enable a computer program to access a database on the server. Remote connections are possible with [**MySQL Workbench**](http://wb.mysql.com/) or [**Adobe Dreamweaver**](http://www.adobe.com/mena/products/dreamweaver) or **[**Navicat**](https://www.navicat.com/en/company/aboutus/blog/1314-managing-databases-remotely-using-navicat.html?highlight=WyJyZW1vdGUiLCJhY2Nlc3MiLCJteXNxbCIsIidteXNxbCcsIiwiJ215c3FsIiwibXlzcWwncyIsIidteXNxbCciXQ==)** clients for the **MySQL** database platform.

Trying to connect to a remote **MySQL** database can be frustrating if your **MySQL** instance is only configured to listen for local connections. Although, this is **MySQL’s** default setting, to allow a remote connection, you must whitelist the IP address for which you want to define connections. If you are using **MySQL** over **SSH**, you do not need to whitelist IP addresses.

## **Prerequisites**

1. Your **[**sites-portal.nexcess.com**](https://portal.nexcess.net/)** login credentials, click the [](https://sites-portal.nexcess.com/forgot-password/)**[**Forgot Password?**](https://sites-portal.nexcess.com/forgot-password/)** link on the login page if you cannot locate them.
2. An existing Nexcess Cloud account using Flexible plan or Magento Plan. See the **[**How to create Nexcess Cloud accounts**](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/hosting-services/sites-and-stores/create-flex-plan/)** article for more information.
3. By default, all IPs are blocked and must be whitelisted. To find out what your IP address is, you can check it by navigating to ****[our IP address checker](https://www.liquidweb.com/tools/ip-checker/).****

## Step by step instructions

1. To start the IP whitelisting process, log in to [sites-portal.nexcess.com](https://sites-portal.nexcess.com/)**.**
2. Next, navigate to the Control Panel page.
3. Then, click on the **Plans** option from the menu on the left side of the screen.
4. Either click the name of your **Magento Plan / Flexible Cloud Plan** service, or select **Plan Dashboard** from the menu toggle.
5. From the dashboard, select **Menu > Control Panel**.
6. Click the **Launch Control Panel** button.
7. Your browser will redirect you to the **SiteWorx Control Panel** home page:
8. From the **SiteWorx** main menu, click **Hosting Features > Firewall Rules.**
9. In the **MySQL Whitelist IP Address** field, add the IP address to the whitelist or click on the **Whitelist My Current IP** button to exercise that option. This option fetches your IP address automatically, and if the IP address is correct, click **Submit**.
10. If you have multiple IP addresses, repeat the process.
11. Please be sure to whitelist your IP address for incoming and outgoing traffic.
12. To delete a **MySQL** whitelist IP address, you can click on the **Delete** button or the corresponding entry to remove any IP whitelisting entry.

Congratulations! You have successfully whitelisted your IP address for **MySQL** remote connections.

**Frequently asked questions**

**Remote access to the **MySQL** database server is disabled by default. Why is this?**The remote access to the **MySQL** database server is disabled due to security reasons.

**Can I test my **MySQL** database remotely and verify database access?** Yes, you can test the remote **MySQL** connection using **MySQL** client applications like **MySQL Workbench**. Otherwise, you can run the following command from a remote machine with a **MySQL** client:

```
$ MySQL -u <local database username> -h <database server IP address> -p
```

**If my IP constantly changes, what should I do?**If you have a dynamic IP address, the connecting IP address will keep changing periodically, depending on the **Internet Service Provider (ISP)**. To use the **Remote MySQL Functionality,** you must update the IP address each time it changes.