Help setting up mySQL

Hello. I am wondering if it is best to install mySQL on our webserver, or if we should install in on the database server where MS SQL currently resides?

(I work for a small ISP who also does hosting.)

Thanks!
- J.D.

 

You should NEVER EVER install a database on the same machine as the webserver. If ANY of the webservers is compromised then they have your databases too. You should have servers for websites and servers for databases. Websites can be easily replaced ...data isn't that easy to replace.

So, I would suggest putting MySQL on its' own server separate from the webservers AND from the MS-SQL server. MS-SQL requires alot of resources. Let it have them.

Of course as I'm typing this I'm thinking about the client scenario where you may want to give the client remote access to the database in which case that server is open to net. That is completely up to you. If it were me, I would give my clients the required login information to their database and install the MS SQL Web Data Administrator or another one like this
http://www.aspenterprisemanager.com/

Users can develop their databases and dump the sql and then run it as query in the administrator. Again, this is all up to you. I would still keep the databases separate for resource reason even if you decide to give then net access to the databases using something like the enterprise manager that comes with SQL server.

 

Thanks!! I also think that having it on a separate server is the right way to go about it.

Can I still give the web users access to the DB server? Is this as simple as setting them up a user account using the mysql control centre?

Thanks for your help!
-J.D.

 

if your MySQL DB is on a separate server then it must be accessible from the web in order for them to use any GUI based tools. Or they can use phpMYAdmin which is a web based DBMS like the other ones I posted. This will give them access to the db from their website without having to open up access on the DB server to the web.

 

...and I would install phpMyAdmin on the webserver right?

 

that is correct. it is a web pased .php script. I should mention that you'll have to have PHP4 installed in order to run PHPMYADMIN.