Managing Cloud Databases via phpMyAdmin

If you prefer a Graphical User Interface (GUI) over the command line, you can configure phpMyAdmin to connect to your remote Cloud Database.

This guide covers the setup for a Clean VPS (AlmaLinux 9) and a cPanel Server.

Scenario A: Clean VPS (AlmaLinux 9)

Step 1: Install Dependencies

Update your system and install the Apache web server, PHP, and the EPEL repository.

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf install httpd php php-mysqli php-json epel-release -y

Start the web server:

sudo systemctl enable httpd --now

Step 2: Install phpMyAdmin

Now install the application from the EPEL repo:

sudo dnf install phpmyadmin -y

Step 3: Configure Apache Access

By default, phpMyAdmin blocks external access. You need to allow your IP (or all IPs) to access the interface.

1. Open the config file:

sudo vi /etc/httpd/conf.d/phpMyAdmin.conf

2. Locate the blocks <Directory /usr/share/phpMyAdmin/> and <Directory /usr/share/phpMyAdmin/setup/>.

3. Change Require local to Require all granted (or restrict to your specific IP for better security).

<Directory /usr/share/phpMyAdmin/>
   AddDefaultCharset UTF-8
   <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
     # Apache 2.4
     Require all granted
   </IfModule>
</Directory>

Step 4: Configure Remote Database Connection

Now we tell phpMyAdmin to connect to the Tilaa Cloud Database instead of (or alongside) localhost.

1. Open the main configuration file:

sudo vi /etc/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php

2. Modify the server configuration array. You can replace the existing block with this logic:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

/* GENERATE A RANDOM 32-CHAR STRING FOR THIS! */
$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'k1721093812093812093812093812381';

$i = 0;

/* Server 1: Tilaa Cloud Database */
$i++;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'your-cloud-db-hostname.tilaa.cloud'; // Replace with your endpoint
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['port'] = ''; // Default 3306
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['compress'] = false;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = false;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['verbose'] = 'Tilaa Cloud DB'; // Name shown in dropdown

/* Server 2: Localhost (Optional) */
$i++;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'localhost';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['verbose'] = 'Local Database';
?>

Step 5: Firewall & SELinux (Critical)

AlmaLinux uses SELinux, which prevents the web server from making outside network connections by default.

1. Allow Remote DB Connections (SELinux):

sudo setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect_db 1

2. Open Firewall Ports (HTTP/HTTPS):

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 6: Restart & Test

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Visit http://your-vps-ip/phpMyAdmin. You should see a "Server" dropdown to choose between your Cloud Database and Localhost.

Scenario B: cPanel Server

cPanel has its own internal phpMyAdmin installation. We can inject the Cloud Database configuration there.

Step 1: Edit Configuration

Open the internal phpMyAdmin config:

sudo vi /usr/local/cpanel/base/3rdparty/phpMyAdmin/config.inc.php

Step 2: Add Remote Server

Find the $cfg['Servers'] array and append your Cloud Database configuration. Ensure you keep the existing "Local" configuration intact so cPanel itself keeps working.

/* Existing cPanel Config above... */

/* ADD THIS BLOCK FOR CLOUD DB */
$i++;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'your-cloud-db-hostname.tilaa.cloud';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['port'] = '3306';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['connect_type'] = 'tcp';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['compress'] = false;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = false;
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['verbose'] = 'Cloud Database';

Step 3: Restart cPanel Services

/scripts/restartsrv_httpd
/scripts/restartsrv_cpsrvd

Now, when you open phpMyAdmin from WHM or cPanel, you should see the option to switch servers.