Run SQL query from shell prompt
mysql -u user -p -e 'SQL Query' database Where, -u : Specify mysql database user name -p : Prompt for password -e : Execute sql query database : Specify database name To list all database, enter: $ mysql -u replicant -p -e 'show databases;' To list count all rows, enter: $ mysql -u replicant -p -e 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM remote_logs' Sample output: Enter password: +----------+ | count(*) | +----------+ | 471 | +----------+ Tell mysql to display output a page at a time, by using more or less pager: $ mysql --pager=/usr/bin/less -u replicant -p -e 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM remote_logs' Redirect out to a file: $ mysql -u replicant -p 'PassWord' -e 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM quotes' remote_logs > sql.output.txta To avoid password prompt just create ~/my.cnf file: [client] # for local server #host=localhost host=10.128.150.205 user=replicant password=myPassword [mysql] pager=/usr/bin/less