-ubuntu server 12.04
-mysql-server5.5
-there is NO hardware firewall just software one

sudo apt-get install mysql-server

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop
sudo mysqld --skip-grant-tables &
mysql -u root mysql
UPDATE user SET Password=PASSWORD('MYPASSWORD') WHERE User='root'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES; exit;

mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'root'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'password' WITH GRANT OPTION;
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

sudo nano /etc/mysql/my.cnf

#skip-external-locking
#bind-address           = 127.0.0.1

iptables -A INPUT -i eth0 -p tcp -m tcp --dport 3306 -j ACCEPT

Active Internet connections (servers and established)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:3306          0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:110             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:143             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:10000           0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 66.123.173.170:53       0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:53            0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:22              0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:953           0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:25              0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:993             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:995             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN
tcp        0      0 66.123.173.170:22       189.32.2.232:49167      ESTABLISHED
tcp        0    336 66.123.173.170:22       189.32.2.232:49654      ESTABLISHED
tcp6       0      0 :::110                  :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::143                  :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::8080                 :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::21                   :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::53                   :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::22                   :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 ::1:953                 :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::25                   :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::993                  :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 :::995                  :::*                    LISTEN
tcp6       0      0 127.0.0.1:8005          :::*                    LISTEN

sudo service mysql start

service mysql status

mysql start/running, process 20757

mysql -h 66.123.173.170 -u root -p

ERROR 2003 (HY000): Can't connect to MySQL server on '66.123.173.170' (111)

mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -u root -p

import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.ServerSocket;

public class PortMysqlTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int port = 3306;

        ServerSocket ss = null;
        try
        {
            ss = new ServerSocket(port);
            ss.setReuseAddress(true);
        }
        catch (IOException e)
        {
            System.out.println(e.getMessage());
        }

        long futureTime = System.currentTimeMillis() + 1000 * 60 * 2;
        while (System.currentTimeMillis() < futureTime)
        {
            try {
                Thread.sleep(1000);
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
        }

        if (ss != null)
        {
            try
            {
                ss.close();
            }
            catch (IOException e)
            {
                System.out.println(e.getMessage());
            }
        }
    }

sudo service mysql stop

/etc/init.d/mysql stop

sudo netstat -lpn | grep 3306

tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:3306          0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      6736/mysqld

kill -9 6736

sudo service mysql start

sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start

telnet 66.123.173.170 3306

mysql -h 66.123.173.170 -u root -p

bind-address = 0.0.0.0

bind-address = *