ExternalDB is a simple plugin that allows you to connect to an external database using the Joomla! JDatabase object, without having to hard-code the connection details in your component, plugin or module. 

To use, follow the following steps.

1. Install the plugin.  (Download it from /gf/project/externaldb/frs/

2. Activate and enter Database connection details in the Plugins section

3. In code, do the following to create a DBO to your external Database

$xdb = new externalDatabase();
$xdbo = $xdb->getDb();

4. Use $xdbo as you would usualy