    def __mysql_connect(self, connect_using_database_name=True):
        try:
            conn = self.__mysql_driver.connect(host=self.__mysql_host, port=self.__mysql_port, user=self.__mysql_user, passwd=self.__mysql_passwd)

            conn.set_character_set(self.__mysql_encoding)

            if connect_using_database_name:
                conn.select_db(self.__mysql_db)
            return conn
        except Exception as e:
            raise Exception("could not connect to database: %s" % e)