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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?"
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.
Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
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
"Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised."
-Marilyn Manson
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.