@criterion9Aug 30.2009 — #As long as the SQL server has opened the appropriate port you just use the first argument in either mysql_connect or msqli_connect. The first argument is for the URI to the server such as 'localhost' or '123.456.789.000' or a domain name such as 'myhost.org'. If both the linux server and the SQL server are on the same local network you won't have to worry about exposing the connection ports through a firewall.