MySQL Data Fragmentation - What, When and How
Fragmentation can leave large holes in your table, blocks which must be read when scanning the table. Optimizing your table can make full table scans and range scans more efficient.
MySQL InnoDB File Formats
Versions of MySQL now come equipped with the powerful and stable InnoDB plugin. We will cover file formats in this article, a very important part of the InnoDB plugin feature set.
Comparing MySQL Statement-Based and Row-Based Replication
There are many ways you can replicate MySQL data, whether it be a simple two-node cluster, chain or master/master. This article explains the two types of data replication (Statement-Based Replication and Row-Based Replication) available in MySQL.
Identify Slow Queries using MySQL’s Analysis Tools
Using MySQL analysis tools, you can identify and optimize slow queries in order to eliminate the bottlenecks that they cause. Rob Gravelle examines the Slow Query Log and Explain command, which can both help identify slow queries.
Top 10 MySQL Best Practices
Rob Gravelle lists his top 10 MySQL best practices for database administrators, architects, developers, and security personnel.
Writing Reusable Queries in MySQL
While stored procedures are an integral part of writing reusable code, they are only one ingredient in a bigger pie. Other key players include views and native as well as user-defined functions. This article explains how all of these elements fit together so that your SELECT statements can be applied to a greater variety of queries.
Limiting the Number of Rows in MySQL Result Sets
In the Web 2.0 world where smart phone and Web applications are competing to access terabytes of data, there is a new imperative for speeding up retrieval times as much as the technology permits. Rob Gravelle lists a few coding techniques that we as database administrators and developers can use to whittle down unwieldy results sets into manageable chunks.
Troubleshooting MySQL Slow Queries with Tcpdumps
MySQL has a wonderful facility for capturing slow queries called the slow query log. However if yours is not enabled when trouble occurs, and restarting the database is not an option, you'll need another solution. This is where a tcpdump can come in handy.
Optimizing MySQL Query Retrieval Speed Through Table Joins
A poorly optimized query can become the bottleneck in an otherwise highly optimized process. In many cases, the source of the slow performance is improper table joining in the WHERE clause. With that in mind, this article looks at ways to optimize table joins for speedy data retrieval.
MySQL Point in Time Backups
Point in time backup and recovery is a crucial component of any part of any MySQL environment. This article describes how to implement the basic point in time recovery and describes a few mechanisms to accomplish this goal.
Use Derived Tables in Your MySQL Queries to Improve Database Performance
There has been much debate as to whether derived tables, views, or temporary tables are actually faster in terms of database performance. The fact is that there is no simple answer, as different queries require different optimizations. Rob Gravelle presents and evaluates some uses for derived tables that highlight their value in many applications.
MySQL Hotbackups with XtraBackup
Hotbackups are a staple of many different database platforms, but they remain sadly absent from the core MySQL distribution. Not to worry, the open-source utility has just arrived to rescue you.
Eliminating Duplicate Rows from MySQL Result Sets
The go to solution for removing duplicate rows from your result sets is to include the distinct keyword in your select statement. It tells the query engine to remove duplicates to produce a result set in which every row is unique. The group by clause can also be used to remove duplicates.
Simple Automation - Examining your MySQL Index Usage
In the majority of MySQL systems, the schema is always updated and changed based on the needs and focus of the application, making it somewhat difficult to keep up with all of the changes that come down the pipe. Chris Schneider shows you how to gauge the index usage in a system, using grep, awk and sed.
Clearing a Path through the 3NF Join Jungle
Rob Gravelle explores the pros and cons of normalization with a particular focus on the ramifications of third normal form normalization on data extraction by SELECT query.
SkySQL Takes Aim at Delivering MySQL
Former Oracle and Sun execs start up new venture aimed at filling perceived gaps in the open source database support system - but is it an attack on Oracle?
Inside MySQL Character Sets & Settings
MySQL has sophisticated character set support, and can store, retrieve and collate single byte, and multi-byte character sets alike. Sean Hull explores using non-default character sets and settings, which use the hierarchy to control these settings.
MySQL Server Benchmarking 101
Benchmarking can be a very revealing process. It can be used to isolate performance problems, and drill down to specific bottlenecks. More importantly, it can be used to compare different servers in your environment, so you have an expectation of performance from those servers, before you put them to work servicing your application.
MySQL 
