MySQL on Windows - Good Idea?

mikeballer asks: "We currently run our website from a shared hosting environment, with ASP and MS SQL Server. We will be moving to a dedicated host, and to save money, we are considering transitioning to MySQL while remaining in a Windows environment. I had read the Windows-vs-Unix section of the MYSQL documentation, but what is Slashdot's perspective on the performance of MySQL in a Windows environment?"

Comments

Re:Can't resist

[jilles]

Actually mysql works fine on windows. I've seen it being used in production and I've run it for about two years for testing purposes. Windows is quite a good choice for running mysql. You get a nice installer which makes configuration easy; there's several good mysql frontends (e.g. mysqladministrator) that make configuration easy and there's commercial support available if you need it.

In general, most oss stuff that makes linux popular runs on windows as well these days (quite often with very good commercial support available and user communities that dwarf their linux counterparts). Basically all of the commandline stuff is likely to already have at least an cygwin port. The more important packages generally have windows specific versions as well (e.g. apache, mysql, openoffice, firefox, python, perl, gaim, php ....). Some of the desktop stuff actually works better on windows (e.g. firefox, eclipse).

I'm a big OSS fan and I use windows almost exclusively. Aside from the OS and office (at work), most stuff I use is open source. I prefer linux for server environments, though, but performance or stability are not the reasons. Managability is the big reason for me.

Despite this I'm pragmatic enough to see that you don't want linux unless you have a capable sysadmin available to run it. Putting linux in an environment with a few windows wannabe sysadmins (i.e. most small companies) is just asking for trouble.

What about 2 servers?

[alta]

I read the doc you mentioned and that 4000 port limit thing seems like it may be killer, depending on the type of connection you have. I know a lot of hosting companies sell both Linux AND windows servers. Have you considered keeping a windows server for the ASP and getting a linux box to run SQL? You'd also have the advantage of seperate servers/seperate functions.

Important Consequence of MySQL for Windows

[Randolpho]

I can't really quote performance stats; I've never dealt with a server that gets enough traffic to make a difference.

What I can tell you is that there is a major, important consequence to using MySQL for Windows rather than *nix. It stems from the way MySQL stores table data: the name of the table is the filename of the file used to store that table. Ditto for database names.

On Windows, filenames are case insensitive. The filename "MySQL" is the same as "mysql" is the same as "MysqL", etc. Consequently, table and database names on MySQL windows servers are case insensitive. Case is preserved on *nix, because filenames are case sensitive.

That's not to say that you shouldn't use MySQL for Windows, just be prepared for portability issues if you happen to migrate from *nix.

MySQL documentation on the subject

Re:Can't resist

[phenix927]

I'm a big OSS fan as well, and administer Windows Servers. I also use every single platform I can get my hands on. I found from experience it can be more difficult to install most OSS Apps on windows than on what they were natively written for. A true geek can use whatever they are given. But back to the point at hand .. MySQL and Postgres runs perfectly fine on Windows. I've been running it in production for about 4 years.

Think inside the box

[Halvard]

So why not run MySQL under Cygwin or use a VM and run Linux and/or Windows under the VM. That way one machine is two and you get to separate the services.

Re:Can't resist

[Zontar The Mindless]

What's germane to the current discussion is that MySQL for Windows does exist, runs fine and fast, and MySQL AB provide both unofficial and official support for it same as for MySQL on most other platforms.

The MySQL win32 mailing list and forum are plenty active, and MySQL AB are generally quite happy to sell you paid support for your servers running their product regardless of the OS that happens to be on them. Even if it's Windows. ;)

MySQL works pretty much the same on Windows as it does anywhere else, the one major exception to this being MySQL Cluster, which is currently supported on Linux, Solaris, and OS X only.

I'd personally rather see people switch to an OSS operating system and run MySQL on that, but that's just my 2 öre. But if you really want to run it on Windows - go for it.