HeidiSQL can't connect to my RDS database?

Question

Hoping someone can help me with this issue I am running into. HeidiSQL won't connect to my RDS database. I can connect to it when I'm on my EC2 instance but not using Heidi SQL. The error I keep getting is:

Can't connect to MySQL server on 'localhost' (10061).

Anyone know how to get HeidiSQL to work with RDS on AWS?

Answer 1

Here is how I did it using MySQL(TCP/IP option)

1. On Amazon RDS, set RDS instance to be publicly accessible. Go to Details -> Modify -> Network & Security -> Public accessibility -> Yes

2. Modify Security Group to allow access to your IP.

   RDS Instance page -> Connect -> Security group rules -> Select Security Group -> Inbound ->Edit -> Add Rule -> Type = MYSQL/Aurora -> Protocol = TCP -> Port range =3306 -> Source = My IP -> Save

3. On HeidiSql,

   New Session -> 
   
    Setting tab ->
   
       Network Type = MySQL (TCP/IP)
          Hostname/IP = your RDS instance endpoint
          User = RDS instance username
          Password = your password
          Port = 3306
          Compressed client/server protocol = yest
          Databases = your database name
   

   Hit Open

Instructions used from Connecting to a DB Instance Running the MySQL Database Engine

HeidiSQL has issues connecting via SSL using the certificate issued by AWS. I used Eclipse and its plugins for SSL connection.

Answer 2

If I understand right, RDS just needs an SSH tunnel before connecting per HeidiSQL to its MySQL server. Setting up a SSH tunnelled connection in HeidiSQL is easy, and documented in the help section.

There are also examples on how to connect especially to Amazon RDS via HeidiSQL, for example: http://www.arcusglobal.com/news/accessing-rds-using-heidisql