dewemoji/sequel-ace-coolify-staging-mysql-guide.md

Sequel Ace + Coolify Staging MySQL (Reliable Access Guide)

This guide is for when Sequel Ace SSH mode fails against a Coolify-hosted app where MySQL is internal-only.

Why Sequel Ace built-in SSH can fail on Coolify

In many Coolify setups, MySQL is not exposed on host 127.0.0.1:3306.
It runs only inside Docker network (service name like mysql), so direct SSH-to-host + DB host 127.0.0.1 will fail.

Recommended method (works with internal-only MySQL)

Use a terminal tunnel to the current MySQL container IP, then connect Sequel Ace to local 127.0.0.1:3307.

1) On your Mac: get MySQL container IP from server

Replace:

• SERVER_USER
• SERVER_HOST

MYSQL_IP=$(ssh SERVER_USER@SERVER_HOST "docker inspect -f '{{range .NetworkSettings.Networks}}{{.IPAddress}}{{end}}' \$(docker ps --format '{{.ID}} {{.Names}}' | awk '/mysql|mariadb/{print \$1; exit}')")
echo "$MYSQL_IP"

If this prints an IP (example 172.18.0.5), continue.

2) Create SSH tunnel (keep terminal open)

ssh -N -L 3307:${MYSQL_IP}:3306 SERVER_USER@SERVER_HOST

Keep this terminal open while using Sequel Ace.

3) Create Sequel Ace connection

Use Standard (not SSH) because tunnel is already created:

• Name: Dewemoji Staging
• Host: 127.0.0.1
• Port: 3307
• User: your MySQL user (example dewesql)
• Password: your MySQL password
• Database: dewemoji

Click Test Connection then Connect.

4) Verify database quickly

Run in Sequel Ace:

SHOW TABLES;
SELECT NOW();

Troubleshooting

A) Connection refused

• Tunnel terminal is closed, or command failed.
• Re-run step 2.

B) Access denied for user

• Wrong DB username/password.
• Confirm app/coolify env values for DB credentials.

C) Unknown database

• Wrong DB name.
• Check with:

  SHOW DATABASES;
  

D) No MYSQL_IP returned

• Server user cannot run Docker commands.
• Test manually:

  ssh SERVER_USER@SERVER_HOST "docker ps --format '{{.Names}}'"
  

• If permission denied, use a user with Docker access.

E) Tunnel worked yesterday but not today

• MySQL container IP changed after redeploy/restart.
• Re-run step 1 and step 2 each session.

Optional: one-liner (resolve + tunnel)

ssh -N -L 3307:$(ssh SERVER_USER@SERVER_HOST "docker inspect -f '{{range .NetworkSettings.Networks}}{{.IPAddress}}{{end}}' \$(docker ps --format '{{.ID}} {{.Names}}' | awk '/mysql|mariadb/{print \$1; exit}')"):3306 SERVER_USER@SERVER_HOST

Security note

Do not expose MySQL publicly in Coolify just for GUI access.
Tunnel-only access is safer for staging and production.