# Create a MySQL data source using named pipes

Procedure: Enable the Database Tools and SQL plugin

This functionality relies on the  Database Tools and SQL plugin, which  is bundled and enabled in IntelliJ IDEA   by default. If the relevant features are not available, make sure that you did not disable the plugin.

> **Note:**
> Database Tools and SQL functionality support is limited in IntelliJ IDEA without the Ultimate subscription.

1. Press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Plugins`.

2. Open the Installed tab, find the Database Tools and SQL plugin, and select the checkbox next to the plugin name.

Named pipes provide a way for communication among processes that run on the same machine. By using named pipes, you can send your data without having the performance penalty that involves the network stack.

Just like you have a server that listens to an IP address and port for incoming requests, a server can also set up a named pipe that can listen for requests. In both cases, the client process must know the address or a pipe name to which it should send the request.

The default pipe name for the MySQL server is `\\.\pipe\MySQL`.

## Prerequisites

* Windows only

* MySQL: [MySQL Community Downloads at dev.mysql.com](https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/installer/)

* IntelliJ IDEA must be on the host where the server is running ([MySQL 8.0 Reference Manual at dev.mysql.com](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/can-not-connect-to-server.html))

## Step 1. Enable named pipes for the MySQL server

Procedure: Verify that named pipes are enabled

* To ensure that named pipes are enabled, run the following code: `SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'named_pipe'`.

If the `named_pipe` variable has the `ON` value, skip Step 1.

![Verify that named pipes are enabled](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_tutorial_named_pipes_check_if_enabled.png)

Procedure: Enable named pipes during server installation

1. Run the installation wizard of the MySQL server.

2. On the Type and Networking dialog, select the Named Pipe checkbox. You can change the pipe name or leave the default value.

3. Finish all the steps of the installation wizard and start the MySQL server.

![Enable named pipes during server installation](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_tutorial_named_pipes_installation_wizard.png)

Procedure: Enable named pipes in my.ini

1. Open the `my.ini` configuration file in a text editor.

2. Add the `enable-named-pipe` parameter to the `mysqld` section. Consider the following example of the `mysqld` section:

```
[mysqld]
# The next three options are mutually exclusive to SERVER_PORT below.
# skip-networking
enable-named-pipe
# shared-memory

# shared-memory-base-name=MYSQL

# The Pipe the MySQL Server will use
socket=MYSQL
```

3. Save changes and restart the MySQL server.

Procedure: How to find my.ini and my.cnf?

* In the command line, run `mysql --help`. Scroll down to the end of the Options  section.

![List of options and default settings location in the command line](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_tutorial_named_pipes_my_ini_file.png)

## Step 2. Configure a connection in IntelliJ IDEA

Procedure:

To connect to a database, create a data source that will store your connection details.

1. Select the data source you want to create. You can do this using one of the following ways:

* In the main menu, go to `File | New | Data Source` and select MySQL.

* In the Database tool window , click ![the New icon](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.add.svg) New on the toolbar. Navigate to Data Source and select MySQL.

![Create a new data source](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/create_new_data_source.png)

2. Check if there is a Download missing driver files link at the bottom of the connection settings area. Click this link to download drivers that are required to interact with a database. For a direct download link, refer to the [JetBrains JDBC drivers](https://www.jetbrains.com.cn/en-us/datagrip/jdbc-drivers/) page.

![The Download missing driver files link](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_connection_download_missing_drivers_link.png)

Location for the downloaded JDBC drivers is the [IntelliJ IDEA configuration directory](directories-used-by-the-ide-to-store-settings-caches-plugins-and-logs.html#config-directory).

You can also use your drivers for the database instead of the provided ones. For more information about connecting to a database with your driver, refer to [Add a user driver to an existing connection](jdbc-drivers.html#configure_a_jdbc_driver_for_an_existing_data_source).

If there is no Download missing driver files link, then you already have the required drivers.

3. On the Advanced tab, find the `serverTimezone` parameter in the list of options. Double-click the Value cell and type your server timezone (for example, `UTC`).

4. Click the General tab.

5. In the Host field, type the following text: `(protocol=pipe)(path=\\.\pipe\MySQL)`, where `MySQL` is the pipe name.

Alternatively, in the Connection type list, select Unix Socket and type or select the path to the pipe: `\\.\pipe\MySQL`.

6. Ensure that the database connection can be established using the provided details. To do this, click the Test Connection  link at the bottom of the connection details section.

![Test Connection link](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_test_connection_link.png)

If you encounter any connection issues, refer to the [Cannot connect to a database](connectivity-problems.html) page.

7. (Optional) By default, only the default    schema is   introspected and available to work with. If you also want to work with other     schemas  , in the Schemas tab, select them for the introspection.

![Schemas tab of the Data Sources and Drivers dialog](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_connection_schemas_tab.png)

8. Click OK to create the data source.

9. Find your new data source in the    Database   tool window   .

* For more information about the Database tool window , see the corresponding [reference topic](database-tool-window.html). > **Tip:** > To see more schemas under your new data source node, click the N of M button and select the ones you need. IntelliJ IDEA will introspect and show them. > > > > ![Select databases and schemas to introspect and display in the Database tool window](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/connection_flow_show_databases_and_schemas.png)

* For more information about working with database objects in IntelliJ IDEA, refer to [Database objects](database-objects.html).

* To write and run queries, open the default [query console](query-consoles.html) by clicking the data source and pressing `F4` (Windows), `⌘ ↓` (macOS), `F4` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `F4` (macOS System Shortcuts), `F4` (XWin), `F4` (GNOME), `F4` (KDE), `F4` (Emacs), `F4` (Sublime Text), `F4` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `F4` (NetBeans), `F4` (Visual Studio), `⌘ ↓` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `F12` (Eclipse), `F3` (Eclipse (macOS)).

* To view and edit data of a database object, open [Data editor and viewer](data-editor-and-viewer.html) by double-clicking the object.

![Integration with MySQL](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_tutorial_named_pipes_test_connection.png)

## See also

### Reference

[Data sources and their elements](database-tool-window.html#icons-for-data-sources-and-their-elements) [Data Sources and Drivers dialog](data-sources-and-drivers-dialog.html)

### Tool Windows

[Database tool window](database-tool-window.html)