Access mysql/mysqldump without password entry each time - Using .my.cnf

Access mysql/mysqldump without password entry each time - Using .my.cnf

In this guide we will show you have to save your mysql credentials so you do not have to enter them each time run mysql or mysqldump.

This is done by creating a ~/.my.cnf file in your users home directory.

vim /home/bnelson/.my.cnf or vim ~/.my.cnf

After you have created this file you can enter your credentials.

 [client]
 user=mysqluser
 password=mysqlpass

• It is best to use a superuser for this, so that you can have access to all databases.

If you are attempting to create a script to do a mysql dump or optimization, this will allow you run that script without having it stop and wait for credentials.

Overview and Thoughts

For safety, make this file readable to you only by running chmod 0600 ~/.my.cnf

Of course, if you specify username and password explicitly as part of commands arguments, they will be used.

Next time you run mysql commands mysql, mysqlcheck, mysqdump, etc; they will pick username & password from this file if you do not provide them as argument (-u and -p).