phpmyadmin and remote mysql administration
Scenario: your server is running mysql and you want to remotly administer databases in it using a local phpmyadmin installation.
In order to access a remote mysql server through your local phpmyadmin installation, change the "$dbserver" variable in /etc/phpmyadmin/config-db.php, like this:
$dbserver='remote.host/ip';
On the server side be sure to grant all the needed privileges to the user for the given remote host (an easy way is using 'mysql-admin') and that your mysql-server is listening on the proper interface (LAN Private IP Address to access the server from your Local Area Network, or WAN IP Address to access the server from the Internet).
Now it's as easy as connecting to your local phpmyadmin installation at: http://localhost/phpmyadmin and login with the chosen remote user and his password.