MySQL for the masses
Categories: Install4Free
Written By: James
A database is a database is a database. Well no, not really. And just as there are hundreds of control panels, there are also many, many different interfaces and means of accessing a MySQL database via web hosts. Some are almost completely automated and at the click of a few tick boxes a database will be created and all the details spewed forth. Others are so hidden and so difficult to use, it is no wonder that the web host clients turn to Install4Free for help.
The allocation of databases within web hosting is a strange thing indeed too. Some free accounts offer unlimited amounts and yet some paying hosts not only restrict their clients to one database per account, but then also go onto charge exhorbitant amounts if a client chooses to opt for another. One I came across only this week charged £25 for each and every database over their one provided with the account.
Additionally, quite a few web hosts do not provide access to phpmyadmin, other than to provide a door to the admin interface but locking out all of the important bits – like assigning users and allowing the ability to change passwords. Likewise, some will gladly grant access to the database admin tool, but will not do so unless a written by hand request is submitted.
And another thing. Perhaps at the time of its inception the wording within the WordPress wp-config file, 99% chance you won’t need to change this value may have applied when referring to defining the name of your database host as ‘localhost’. However, if my experiences are anything to go by, this is no longer the case. Off the top of my head, a figure more along the lines of 50% would now be more appropriate.
One last little detail about databases that intrigues me. The choice of passwords by most people. So many people who ask for assistance via Install4Free have very weak usernames and password combinations with some just being amazingly simple to crack, like:
login: admin password: password and the marine website with the person’s name being Sue so guess the login and the password? Yes, you guessed it – dolphin.
We always apply something a bit stronger with a alphanumeric structure and at least 8 characters, but we know in our hearts that a strong login and password is only as good as the person who applies it in all they do.
That’s it for now, but my next sojourn into databases may be a quick tutorial for new users explaining how easy it is to change some of the simple things such as siteurl and home addresses.
