The following maintenance jobs are typically run against a MySQL database:

• Backup
• Clean-up binary logs
• Optimize tables
• Purge query cache
• Rotate binary logs

Backup

A backup is not a typical maintenance job. But it behaves more or less like one. The backup should be done regularly depending on the restore/PITR (Point in Time Recovery) requirements.

Make sure, that in the backup all the necessary files (data files, transaction log files, configuration files and binary log files) are included. To prove that the backup process is working properly a regular restore should be performed. This can ideally be combined with the set-up of new database instances for developers or testing.

Clean-up the binary logs

The binary logs can be cleaned-up in two ways:

a) Passive by MySQL itself:

#    my.cnf

expire_logs_days    = …

Sun Microsystems founder and chairman talks about his current role and what keeps him and Andy Bechtolsheim engaged at Sun READ MORE

I am about to tackle updating the MySQL Certification Web Pages and need some help. The site needs a good cleaning, dusting, a little paint, and some re decorating. Please feel free to add your input.

The pages need to be streamlined to make it easier for candidates to find information about MySQL Certification. The promotion of MySQL certifications to recruiters, hiring managers, and personnel departments is one of my goals. And I want to start more of a community for those with certifications.

So I am going through my 'to-do' list, the emailed gripes, and all the other suggestions. But I am offering you a chance to add thoughts.

--

No North Texas MySQL Meetup with Labor Day next Monday.

--

I just returned from a week in Edinburgh with the MySQL trainers, ciriculum developers, and the folks …

The following maintenance jobs are typically run against a MySQL database:

• “Backup”

• Clean-up binary logs.

• Optimize tables

• Purge query cache

• Rotate binary logs

Backup

A backup is not a typical maintenance job. But it behaves more or less like one. The backup should be done regularly depending on the restore/PITR (Point in Time Recovery) requirements.

Make sure, that in the backup all the necessary files (data files, transaction log files, configuration files and binary log files) are included. To prove that the backup process is working properly a regular restore should be performed. This can ideally be combined with the set-up of new database instances for developers or testing.

Clean-up the binary logs

…

Are you in Canberra/ACT, and are you an experienced DBA needing to tune InnoDB? Or do you just maintain some MySQL instances on the side and need to know more about proper installation, security and backup/recovery methods?

Well... the upcoming Open Query course days in Canberra still have a few seats left. No, it's not "nearly full" but it's not empty either. And yes, I know that Sun/MySQL recently cancelled a DBA training week in Canberra at the last minute (they also scheduled it close to the last minute to begin with ;-) however these Open Query days are definitely going ahead. The topics:

• Monday 22 September: MySQL …

I just finished some testing of the latest MySQL alpha (6.0.6) and focused on the additions put into the new backup/restore utility that will be in 6.0.  If you’re not familiar with it, I’d encourage you to check out a new article that I wrote that will take you through what the new backup is all about.  The thing people are most excited about is being able to do online backups for MyISAM databases (where online = non-blocking for DML operations; you can also do non-blocking backups for transaction engines that support consistent snapshot).  But I also saw faster backups with the new utility as well as much faster restores, and I’m interested to know if those of you testing 6.0 are seeing the same things?

If you haven’t downloaded and given the new backup a test drive, I’d encourage you to do so - you can …

Thanks to all who attended my talks at FrOSCon 2008. It was a pleasurable experience, as it has always been in the past.
The slides of my two sessions are published in the MySQL Presentation Repository

• MySQL Community How To
• MySQL Sandbox

A picture says it all. Special offers at a FrOSCon books booth.
For how long is an IT book in its prime?

Could it have been the close up cameras?  Hmmmm....

• NBC: Olympic Volleyball Photo Gallery

Caching Business Logic in the Database

I had this relatively simple idea of storing conditions in the database. The idea is to store the condition of the if-then-else from your code in the database. While this will add (slightly) more space to the database, I hope that it will do away with processing the data over and over again as well as help drastically speed up searches and any analytical processing you would like to do in the future. I will try to explain with an example..


Story:
You run an electronics store and you have sales people working in that store. You would like to give a bonus incentive and you decide that the rules for the bonus would be the following:
1) Sales people that sell more then average amount of money each for at least 15 days out of a month will receive a bonus. After a bit of calculation you …