Multiple forums in one MySQL database???

[davidw55]

Is anyone running mutiple forums in one MySQL database? I am wondering what type of limitations there may be with doing something like this (i.e. when the forums get a lot of traffic, you'd probably hit the connection limits, etc.) Anyone with experience in doing this can offer any advice along these lines, I would appreicate it. Thanks...

David

[irasmith]

First off, that is one breathtaking image you have on your home page of your site. I love nature/outdoor type photos and that one really captivates and holds your attention. Very nice indeed.

I run a forum on my site, but it isn't heavily used at this point as the need for it isn't quite complete yet with what I want to do in offering some programming classes and tech support on line.

But before I elected to use a forum on my site, I watched the postings here for a long time to see what issues might/would come up.

On a very heavily trafficed forum you do stand the chance of hitting the connection limit powweb has. However, there have been many postings on how to handle this. Since we can have three sql users, there is some code snippets floating around that shows how to make it randomly select each time someone connects so it is not the same sql user getting used all the time. In theory you shouldn't have connection issues with the random mode.

I am presuming you are meaning you'd have several different subject boards but still use the same software to run each of them. If that is the case, then when a user changes from one board to another that should still use their existing connection as far as I can see.

I would also think to a degree the amount of traffic you had to handle would depend in part on how much data you retained on the boards. The board I use, a derivite of phpbb tweaked for the post nuke cms environment, has options for 'pruning' the board or in other words at what point do older historical type postings drop off and get removed from the database.

Hope this information helps you out.
Ira

[KimmiKat]

davidw55,

When I had my forums on PW, I ran 3 of them off one database. I simply used a different prefix for each one, therefore you can use the rotate users script on any of the boards. One board was my own, another was used for a homeowner's association (who's 34¢ or whatever a month server had like 45.7% uptime, but the HOA is very cheap) and a 3rd was temporary one for a friend till she got mySQL set up on her site. I had ran into the limits a few times, but that was from my main forum but the other 2 never did since they had little traffic.

If down the road you add another db or 2, you can split the database up. If you use a different prefix for each mboard, it's not that difficult. That's what I did when my friend got her mySQL set up and I moved the board there.

[davidw55]

Ira,

Thanks for the compliment...My wife took the picture one morning last Sept. when we were down at Daytona Beach on vacation. She wanted to get a good shot of the sunrise (I was not up at the time ;-) When I setup our personal site a few months ago, she said she wanted me to use something of hers, so I thought that was a good choice. I like it too. We love to take nature shots, clouds, etc. I am probably going to have a sky/clouds shot like that on my company page when it goes live in a few weeks as well (to compliment the company name).

As far as 'pruning' goes, I think YaBB SE that I am using has some of that built in as well. Yes, you were correct, I was asking about running multiple instances of the same software (YaBB SE) in one database. I knew it wasn't to difficult, just specify different prefix names for the tables, but was just concerned about the impact on performance and connection limitations. I had forgotten that we get three users though, so I will have to search around a bit and find those code snippets you mentioned that allow random user selection. Thanks for the tips....

David


Originally posted by irasmith
First off, that is one breathtaking image you have on your home page of your site. I love nature/outdoor type photos and that one really captivates and holds your attention. Very nice indeed.

I run a forum on my site, but it isn't heavily used at this point as the need for it isn't quite complete yet with what I want to do in offering some programming classes and tech support on line.

But before I elected to use a forum on my site, I watched the postings here for a long time to see what issues might/would come up.

On a very heavily trafficed forum you do stand the chance of hitting the connection limit powweb has. However, there have been many postings on how to handle this. Since we can have three sql users, there is some code snippets floating around that shows how to make it randomly select each time someone connects so it is not the same sql user getting used all the time. In theory you shouldn't have connection issues with the random mode.

I am presuming you are meaning you'd have several different subject boards but still use the same software to run each of them. If that is the case, then when a user changes from one board to another that should still use their existing connection as far as I can see.

I would also think to a degree the amount of traffic you had to handle would depend in part on how much data you retained on the boards. The board I use, a derivite of phpbb tweaked for the post nuke cms environment, has options for 'pruning' the board or in other words at what point do older historical type postings drop off and get removed from the database.

Hope this information helps you out.
Ira

[davidw55]

KimmiKat,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I think the random user thing would be the way to go for me once I get to that point.

I already knew I could just use different prefix names for the tables when I run the install.php, but was just concerned about the limitations, etc. I just d/l'd MySQL-Front and it seems to be a pretty nice little "front end" to manage the database, although I'm not going to go playing with "live" data until I am very familar with it :D Do you have any idea where the code was for doing the random user trick? Thanks again...

David

Originally posted by KimmiKat
davidw55,

When I had my forums on PW, I ran 3 of them off one database. I simply used a different prefix for each one, therefore you can use the rotate users script on any of the boards. One board was my own, another was used for a homeowner's association (who's 34¢ or whatever a month server had like 45.7% uptime, but the HOA is very cheap) and a 3rd was temporary one for a friend till she got mySQL set up on her site. I had ran into the limits a few times, but that was from my main forum but the other 2 never did since they had little traffic.

If down the road you add another db or 2, you can split the database up. If you use a different prefix for each mboard, it's not that difficult. That's what I did when my friend got her mySQL set up and I moved the board there.

[irasmith]

Here is a thread that should give you what you need to know on how to randomly rotate users (http://forum.powweb.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20001)

You are welcome on the comments about the pictures. I just recently purchased a digital camera to do just that, take outdoor shots to place on the web.

Good luck with your endevors of multiple databases.

I noted you mentionied using MySQL-Front. I believe it is a good product but it is not developed or supported any longer. I realize there are some folks on here who use it and are quite the masters of it, so you should be able to get help from some of them.

I opted to first try phpMyadmin and then when I hit some snares there I gave the MySQLCC a try, it's made by the same folks who make MySQL and even though it's still a beta product at this time it's quite cool to work with. It installs locally on your workstation just like MySQL-Front. Just tossing in some extra information for you and wish you well.
Ira

[davidw55]

Ira,

Thanks for the info! I have printed out that tread for later use. I didn't know the MySQL folks had their own front end. I will probably d/l it and at least give it a look. Probably wait until it's out of beta to start using it live though. It's just a little uneasy using a product this is no longer being developed/supported. Thanks...

David

BTW, We actually didn't use our digital (DC4800 - 3.1) much after we got it, but ever since we DID start using it, now we can't stop :D and try to keep it with us in the car so we can get those really good shots when we see them...

[irasmith]

I understand totally about the uneasy feeling of using a product no longer supported by the maker and I'm the same way. Not saying it's a bad product as it's obviously good and stable to have so many still using it.

If I had to make a guess, I'd probably venture to say that once the MySQLCC comes out of beta, a lot will move over to it. Since it's provided by the same folks that do MySQL, what better companion admin tool could you have?

I hear you on the digital camera. I bought mine specifically for that purpose after going years without a camera and relying soley on those disposable cameras you buy. Prior to that I had an old tele-instamatic camera that predated built in flash devices. I had to chuck it in the trash several years ago when I couldn't find flash bulbs for it any longer.

So this Canon s50 is the best one I've ever owned never sinking that much into a camera before. My aim is to take varying outdoor/nature type shots and put them in a photo album on my site. I've recently found some software that works with the post nuke content management system I use to build my site, and this software accesses your photo album and lets users use pictures in the album as inserts when they send on line e-cards.
Ira