The Basics of Tuning MySQL on Dedicated Servers

MySQL Tuner Title Image

One of the most common sources of site performance degradation is poor database optimization. While it is possible to optimize databases by manual inspection, this process may be prohibitively time consuming. To assist with this, MySQL Tuner was designed to make database optimization easier. In this guide, we will explore the basics of tuning MySQL databases with MySQL Tuner in order to optimize your MySQL service for faster queries and load times on your website. Please note that you will need to log into the command line interface as the root user to continue on with this tutorial.

MySQL Tuner

MySQL Tuner is a script that checks for fragmented database tables that need to be repaired, provides uptime statistics, and reviews the database for security issues. Written in PERL, MySQL Tuner is often used to help optimize databases and increase efficiency in database queries. By tuning MySQL databases, you can reduce site load times and increase the overall performance of the site itself. If your site relies heavily on database queries, proper optimization is key. The good news is that tools such as MySQL Tuner exist as easy-to-use database optimization resources.

Warning: We recommend only making changes if you have in-depth experience with MySQL services. Otherwise, we recommend contacting our Managed Hosting team or an experienced system administrator or database administrator for further assistance.

How to Use MySQL Tuner

  1. Log in to your server via SSH as the root user.
  2. Change to the /usr/src/ directory using the following command:

    cd /usr/src/
     
  3. Download the mysqltuner.pl script using the wget command:

    wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/major/MySQLTuner-perl/master/mysqltuner.pl
     
  4. Run the downloaded script with the following command:

    perl mysqltuner.pl
     
    MySQL will then generate a report with information on how to improve MySQL performance.

Know you’ll always be able to reach your customers when they need you with our Dedicated Hosting Services.

Congratulations, now you are now familiar with tuning MySQL databases for fast queries and load times. Use MySQL Tuner to enhance your website performance today!

Learn more about server management from our Dedicated Hosting Product Guide.

IC
InMotion Hosting Contributor

InMotion Hosting contributors are highly knowledgeable individuals who create relevant content on new trends and troubleshooting techniques to help you achieve your online goals!

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2 Comments

    • Hello,

      Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, without more information it is difficult to say why the wget command is failing. I recommend contacting our Technical Support team for direct assistance with the command you are using.

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