Optimze MySQL - specific server settings

[DogTags]

Hi All

I'd like to tell my new host how best to configure mysql for Zencart.

Initial calls to the cart can be quite slow (Parse 13 secs) even though I have IP to Host Conversion Status turned off, and lots of other things are turned off, too. Once the initial page is called, the cart speed seems fine.

Thus, whatever are the magic mysql settings that affect the speed of the initial call to the cart would be the primary settings that I'm looking for.

For example, I've heard about the "gethostbyaddr" setting, but I don't know what the specific setting should be. Is it "On" "Off" "1" "0", or some range?

Any help would be most appreciated. Many thanks

[yellow1912]

Do you have this installed:
http://eaccelerator.net/

[DogTags]

Do you have this installed:
http://eaccelerator.net/

Thanks

I just sent the host an inquiry about this.

[Chuckl]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Page Parse times have very little to do with MySql performance.
I agree however that a 13sec page load time is not very good.
Have you checked your site at websiteoptimization.com?

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/

If not, it's worth a visit

[DogTags]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Page Parse times have very little to do with MySql performance.
I agree however that a 13sec page load time is not very good.
Have you checked your site at websiteoptimization.com?

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/

If not, it's worth a visit

What controls page parse times?

Thanks

[DrByte]

A page's parse time is calculated from when "index.php" is hit, until everything's done processing and data is handed over to apache to send to the browser.

[DrByte]

I'd like to tell my new host how best to configure mysql for Zencart.
...

Thus, whatever are the magic mysql settings that affect the speed of the initial call to the cart would be the primary settings that I'm looking for.

This post isn't meant to be offensive. It's meant to be informative, even though somewhat firm:

A webhost who *already* knows how to tune MySQL for optimal performance is one you want to host with.
The skills for studying and monitoring MySQL performance are things that take time to master. Those who know how ... have usually invested a lot of time to learn and study their own servers and client behaviours to understand the best settings that work for their customers.
If you find someone willing to "give away" free consultations on how to best tune your server ... then at least take them for dinner someplace expensive. Most who will coach you on how to optimize your server have gained that knowledge at great expense.
Basically what I'm saying is ... there's no free lunch. If someone wants to prove me wrong, then I hope they'll do so by writing a whitepaper to share with everyone on how best to set up MySQL for perfect performance in every situation.

If your host isn't willing to study and learn how to optimize MySQL for their clients ... then ... well ... why are you doing business with them?


If you were only looking for some guidelines to point them in the right direction, tell them this: Give MySQL lots of RAM. Esp for its own caching. Leave the cache TTL's long, and spend several hours each day monitoring to ensure there are no bottlenecks that couldn't be solved by reallocating RAM accordingly. They should already know that they should be allocating enough resources to handle table-scans efficiently, etc.

Slow parse times on the "first hit" to the site after it's been idle for awhile indicate that the database cache has expired and needs to be reloaded. Either the server is very busy or its cache TTL is too short. Or, you just have to live with it.

You might consider footing the bill to sign them up for one of the many MySQL workshops available on server tuning. That is, until you see the price ...

[DogTags]

No prob, Dr. I understand. A loooong time ago, I ran a VPS, did all the server admin, never want to again, it was horrendous, mysql is a tricky bugger to fine tune.

Many thanks

[DogTags]

Do you have this installed:
http://eaccelerator.net/

Do you know if this has to installed server-wide, or can it be installed in just a single web account?

Thanks

[Chuckl]

I believe eaccellerator is installed on the Apache server as a server module, so it server wide/host installed.

If it was installed on your server it would show up in Admin-Tools-Server Info.