James Harvard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on 12/12/2005 10:26:42 AM: > [Apologies for my first post here being semi-off-topic!] > > I normally deploys apps I develop (MySQL with Lasso web middleware) > with an ISP, so I have no experience of choosing hardware > configurations or sourcing them. > > My current client's application involves a very large amount of data > which I have split into a number of tables. These tables (data > files) are currently between several hundred MB and 2 GB each for 6 > 1/2 years data, and will grow. However, tables are not updated in > normal use (we can take the app off-line for updates) - so the data > is pretty much read-only. > > From my reading of the manual it seems that disc seek speed is the > limiting factor once tables get so large that the data and indices > cannot be cached in RAM. So I believe that the best hardware setup > for a dedicated MySQL server would include two fast discs striped > (RAID 0) for the databases and a third separate disc for the operating system. > > Does this sound right? (Also thoughts on SCSI versus SATA?) > > Second question: > > The chap who will probably administer the servers seems to prefer > buying Dell, but AFAIK Dell don't do any 1U servers that would > support 3 drives. Can anyone recommend any server brands available > in the UK, or UK based companies that will build servers, supporting > 3 discs (2 RAID & 1 for the OS)? > > Many thanks, > James Harvard >
General recommendations: RAM, RAM, RAM. Pack in as much as you can afford. Try to pick a stable 64-bit OS, too. That way you are not limited to just 2,3, or 4 GB of addressable RAM. But realities are what they are and that may not be an option for you. The more independent I/O channels you can provide to your disks, the more throughput you can support. The more independent spindles you have (or sets of spindles because you want them RAIDed) the more concurrency you can support. That means you may be better off with lots of cheaper 10-16GB disks rather than few 250GB disks if raw disk performance is your necessity. Then, you throw us the curve by saying it all had to fit in a 1U factor....(groan) Generally, if you have enough independent spindles to split the OS, paging file, and LOGS from the DATA then your performance should be fine. Your 3 disk setup will probably have the data and the logs on the same RAID set and your paging file on the OS partition. It will probably be able to keep up but you might consider a set of external SCSI drives in a second 1U unit to sit under the first or consider a larger form factor so that you can host more drives if that turns out to be a limiting factor Sorry I cannot make more specific recommendations but if you keep those general ideas in mind, your server should zip right along. Shawn Green Database Administrator Unimin Corporation - Spruce Pine
