Author: Robert Agar

The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown from an interesting concept to a paradigm that is changing the way individuals and businesses operate in the 21st Century. It is based on connecting IP-capable devices so they can communicate with each other in a variety of ways. They range from automated industrial assembly lines to smart appliances that promise to make life easier and more convenient for consumers.

A common aspect of all IoT implementations is that they make use of large amounts of data collected from network-connected devices. As with most data-centric applications, IoT systems rely on databases to store and process the accumulated information that drives them. MySQL is a valid choice in database platforms when you are designing a system that interacts with the IoT.

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Author: Scott Stone

We are pleased to announce the general availability of SQL Diagnostic Manager for MySQL 8.9. Existing users may upgrade to this version through the Idera Customer Portal. New users may download the trial version from the Idera Website or the Monyog Website.

Rebranded from the popular Monyog product for monitoring performance of MySQL and other MySQL compatible databases, SDM for MySQL is  a comprehensive solution to monitor, alert, and diagnose the availability, health, and performance of MySQL, or MariaDB in physical, virtual, and cloud environments.

SQL Diagnostic Manager for MySQL addresses the most critical performance …

Author: Robert Agar

MySQL is one of the most popular database platforms in the world. It is widely used to power eCommerce sites and web applications that are essential components of many companies’ business strategies. MySQL databases are often the repository for sensitive customer data gathered while conducting business as well as information regarding internal processes and personnel.

An organization’s databases are responsible for storing and manipulating the information required to keep it operating and competing effectively in their market. They are critically important to a company’s success and need to be guarded and kept secure. The database team comprises an enterprise’s first line of defense and is responsible for implementing security policies and standards that minimize the chances for the systems to be accessed by unauthorized users or exposed to malicious malware.

One of the …

Author: Robert Agar

MySQL is an extremely popular open-source database platform originally developed by Oracle. It currently is the second most popular database management system in the world, only trailing Oracle’s proprietary offering. If you aim to be a professional database administrator, knowledge of MySQL is almost a prerequisite. It is an important part of the multi-platform database environment found in the majority of IT departments.

A recent addition that has added to the complexity of managing a MySQL environment is the introduction of big data. Big data is characterized by the volume, velocity, and variety of information that is gathered and which needs to be processed. It can be used to provide an organization with the business …

Author: Robert Agar

One of the tasks that a database team needs to be prepared to perform is a MySQL migration. In the deep, dark past of the early 21st Century, this would have involved moving a MySQL database from one server to another one located within your company’s data center. This might have been done to take advantage of better hardware with which to provide optimal service to the database’s end users. As the IT needs of a business change, systems are often shuffled around to make the best use of computing resources.

Besides enjoying the faster performance the main impact of migration on your database team is the requirement to use a different IP address to connect to the server hosting the databases they support. No big deal. The assumption would be that all tools and monitoring platforms in place before the migration will continue to function correctly. Once the dust settles, all is well in …

Author: Robert Agar

A constant in the computing world is that it is always evolving and offering new challenges and opportunities. Software solutions come and go with some becoming staples in the business community while others barely cause a ripple as they disappear into the ether. Take MySQL as an example. From its humble beginnings in 1994, the platform has grown to become the most popular SQL database in 2019. If you are a database professional, chances are very good that you work with MySQL regularly.

The popularity of the database platform has not gone unnoticed by the unscrupulous entities that engage in cybersecurity attacks with nefarious intentions. Whether acting …

Author: Robert Agar

MySQL is one of the most popular relational database platforms in the world. As such, it is used as the backend of many mission-critical applications across all sectors of business and industry. If you are a DBA or database developer there is a high probability that you are working with MySQL now or will be in the near future.

One of the primary responsibilities of a DBA is to optimize the performance of their databases. There are many ways to accomplish this feat, and all of them have an important point in common. You need knowledge concerning the operation of your systems before you can expect to make intelligent modifications to them. All of the methods used to tune and optimize your databases are identified by studying metrics regarding their current performance and using this data to plan appropriate action.

The right tools are required to gather the information needed to …

Author: Robert Agar

The role of a corporate database administrator has evolved tremendously since the introduction of relational databases in the late 1970s. A DBA from the early 1980s would be totally unprepared for the complexities that face database professionals in 2019. It’s a completely different world and the skillset required has radically changed.

The heightened focus on the value of a company’s accumulated data has made DBAs more important to the business goals of an organization than ever before. Keeping this valuable resource safe and accessible is one of the modern DBA’s primary responsibilities. Many diverse methods are required to fulfill these duties, and a DBA must be comfortable using them all to address problems encountered in day-to-day activities.

Common Issues Faced by DBAs

The laundry list of issues that DBAs must deal with regularly is a long one. …

Author: Robert Agar

The monitoring of IT systems is an important practice that should be in place in any complex computing environment. It provides a window into the inner-workings of the systems and applications with which a business or organization operates. The statistics produced by a monitoring platform can be used to optimize systems, enhance the user experience or plan for capacity upgrades.

A viable monitoring platform is designed with the ability to generate and send alerts. This feature increases the utility of the tool by introducing the possibility of creating immediate notifications to address potential issues or inconsistencies in the systems being observed. Alerts are routed to individuals or teams who can take action to further investigate or resolve the problems. Let’s take a closer look at why you want alerts to be created and how your organization should handle them.

Why …

Author: Robert Agar

Tuning database performance is a complicated task that can be a thorn in the side of the database team. There are many interconnected components and environmental aspects that come under consideration when attempting to optimize the performance of your database systems. A DBA can be hard-pressed to determine where to begin their optimization efforts.

An initial investigation may concentrate on the network and hardware on which the database is running. These inquiries may uncover issues that can be easily identified and addressed. It may be a simple matter of adding some disk space or upgrading memory on the database’s server. You might be able to move the database to a less-used network segment to improve the response time when satisfying user requests. Maybe there are conflicting applications or processes on the same server that are impacting the availability of resources to power the …