How to connect MySQL database through two SSH hosts

Question

How do I connect to MySQL database through two SSH hosts ?

Here is my situation: I have two SSH hosts as show below. MySQL is running in BOX2 host.

MyBox(MySQL GUI client) -----SSH(port 22)--->BOX1(IP: 190.xx.xx.xx)---SSH(port 22)--->BOX2(IP: 190.xx.xx.xx)[MySQL server]

My question is how do I connect if I have multiple SSH hosts to tunnel as shown above ?

Answer 1

I think this will help. Try this command from MyBox (having the MySQL Client)

ssh user@box1 -L some-local-port:box2:22

Now from the Client try to connect to connect this way

MySQL host : localhost
MySQL usernmae : mysql-username-of-server-installed-at-Box2
MySQL password : mysql-password-of-server-installed-at-Box2
MySQL port : 3306 (suppose mysql server at Box-2 is listening at port 3306)

In tunnelling info

SSH host : localhost
SSH pass : ssh-password-of-Box2
SSH port : some-local-port

Answer 2

Try the following:

ssh -L 33306:localhost:33306 user@box1_hostname ssh -L 33306:localhost:3306 user@box2_hostname

Then try connecting to mysql using 127.0.0.1:33306. Note that port 33306 will be available to anyone on box1 which may or may not be an issue for you.

Another way to accomplish the same is to use ProxyCommand as explained here.