Hello, Your description is fairly accurate and we can boil it down even further...
Replication is Asynchronous, Cluster is Synchronous, in regards to how data is replicated. Keep in mind that in Cluster, the MySQL Servers really only act as SQL interfaces for the data in the Cluster, it is the NDB storage engine (Data Nodes) that deal with ensuring that data is replicated and available. I regards to the the setup, there is no special hardware, networking or software requirements for either. Although Replication would require a minimum of two machines, Cluster likely four. Tough to say what the "cost" would be depending on which option you go with and whether you'd need support as well. Needless to say, it would be many times more economical to go with MySQL then going with something like Oracle or SQL Server. Also note, MySQL and MySQL Replication are fairly ubiquitous for websites, so there are a lot of resources on basic and advanced topologies. For more info on replication see: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/replication.html http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/replication-faq.html For Cluster, start with the FAQ if you haven't already: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/mysql-cluster-faq.html Thanks, Jimmy Guerrero Sr Product Manager MySQL, Inc > -----Original Message----- > From: Jesse [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 7:23 AM > To: MySQL List > Subject: Replication vs. Clustering > > I think I know the difference, but wanted to make sure. What > is the difference between Replication and Clustering? My > understanding is that in Replication, changes made on the > Master Server are downloaded to a Slave server periodically, > and thus, the slave server is up-to-date within a few minutes > of the Master server. > > Am I correct in assuming that in a cluster situation, there > are actually multiple servers, all updated at the same time, > and if any one goes down, then the others can pick up the slack? > > Generally (don't need details, but a very general idea), what > is involved in setting up each? What would be the cost of > doing such for a business who has a "mission critical" web > application accessed from all over the U.S.? > > Thanks, > Jesse > > > -- > MySQL General Mailing List > For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql > To unsubscribe: > http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
