The former. Edit db_settings.php reflecting you host.

$db_settings['host'] = "your host";
$db_settings['user'] = "your user name";
$db_settings['pw'] = "your password";
$db_settings['db'] = "your name of the data base";

Upload by FTP and don’t forget to set permissions to 664.

ok thnx, but that isnt the problem!
when im copying the MLF on the same machine (to the homedir of a new user), the database settings does not chance.
as a result i can browse in the copied forum, log in and see postings of the users....

the ARRAY thing is my problem!
maybe because i do not use the installer?