Database Server Basics

Linux provides a very solid platform to run 32 and 64 bit database servers. The two most popular open database packages are MySQL and PostgreSQL. When building an open source database solution, well any database solution one must consider a number of factors. This document attempts to document those factors and provide recommendations.

Server Hardware

Database servers must have plenty of horsepower to execute queries in a reasonable time under normal load.

Server Software

Database servers should be configure to do nothing else. Other programs on the system will compete with the chosed RDBMS for resources and could slow it down.

Server Environment

These servers must be kept in a secure facility with controlled physical access. Unused user accounts and daemons should be removed or disabled.