Mysql question - no luck on getting answers elsewhere..

[88guy]

I'm new here and I have no idea wether or not this the appropriate place to ask this sort of question.  I've noticed subjects like "The War In Iraq", "My border collie had 8 pups!", etc......so maybe I'm "barking up the wrong tree..." (clever segue, huh?).  Anyway - can't get an answer elsewhere, so what's to lose?  I want to offer hosting, virtually for free, to family and friends.  I'm 52, no computer whiz, and it's strictly for fun.  I have a Linux server with RedHat 7.3, 6 virtual hosts, Qmail, webalizer.....kind of a fun setup.  I have a blast with the thing.  My wife hates it - that's another discussion board.  When I used to pay for webhosting I could set up a Mysql-based messageboard and I was issued a username and password.  On my own system, I have multiple boards and, when I install them, I have to use the username "root" and my personal password for the root account.  Also, I have 2 instances of the popular phpBB2 and I have to use different database names for them - which makes sense. Finally - my question: how does a user have his own "area" of a mysql database wherein he uses his own username, password, etc.?  Is this even possible - or do I have some false memory of what happened when I bought webhosting..?  Can someone point me in the right direction short of reading the man pages from beginning to end or buying a book.... Thanks.

[spherica]

I'll let one of our mods that has experience know when he becomes avilible, hopefully he can cure your ruffled feathers

[88guy]

I got on a MySql mailing list and got my answer......also did some reading.  Still, thanks for taking the time to respond.

[spherica]

No Prob, any chance you can post the answer for the next person that comes and asks??

[lostingermany]

Hi spherica

You have alot of possibilities to solve your problem. The first thing you have to do is add a new user. The problem is what kind of priviliges that user is suppose to receive. You can limit the user to a certain table or database. You can even restrict the user from a certain IP to use a specified database or table.
If you want to do it by hand I use PHPMyAdmin. You will have to add a user in the user table in the MySQL database. You have to watch out what kind of privliges that you give the user. If you just want to add a user and not restrict him to one database or table then you will need to add a "Y" in the following privilige columns, Select_priv,  Insert_priv,  Update_priv,  Delete_priv,  Create_priv,  Drop_priv, Index_priv,  Alter_priv,  Create_tmp_table_priv and  Lock_tables_priv. In the rest of the columns you will have to put in an "N".
If you want to restrict him to a certain database then add an "N" in all of the columns. After you do that then you will have to go to the db table and add a user in that table, too. In this table you have to enter the name of the database and the user that you just added in the user table. This time you can set all of the columns to "Y" except for Grant_priv and References_priv where you have to enter a "N".
It gets even more complicated, but I think that is what most people use the most.

Have fun with it!