mySQL hosting

[scoob8254]

anybody know somewhere where u can buy cheap mySQL hosting, dont need any webspace just a sql db, wouldnt need to be anything heavy as would only be used for me to play with while coding and to hold members info for a small organisation, and i mean small 20 members

regards
scoob

 

[Banana]

I would daresay you don't even need a hosting if it's only 20 members and load is small enough. I'd just scrap up a old computer nobody's using and install MySQL there, work with the IT manager to set up the networking then you now have your own MySQL database available to the world.

 

[scoob8254]

i currently run a mySQL db on a laptop i have in the house, prob is i need the sql db to be able to be accessed from wan, i could prob rig something up with dynDNS as i dont have a static ip but dont want to keep my laptop on 24/7, and as its only going to be a small db dont want to pay loads for it

 

[Banana]

I understand that and I'd agree laptop is a poor choice for a server. However, you don't have to have big iron just to host MySQL, so if your company has a old computer sitting somewhere in the building collecting dust, you can put that into service as service, and one benefit of MySQL is its visibility to run on any hardware, even one with only 256 MB of RAM and 2 GB Hard drive.

Alternatively, if you have a desktop server or just a computer that isn't used heavily, it can also double as a database server.

If it's really that small, then I'm not really sure it would make sense to get it hosted.

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

I agree - I'd get any old computer and set it up with one of those all-in-one LAMP server distributions - SME Server is a good one (it's lightweight and will run on surprisingly low-spec hardware - because you don't need all the graphical desktop stuff, just a server)

 

[Banana]

Does SME Server have the option to not install the A & P? It seems that he only want a database server and not a web server with scripting capability.

But yes, you're right to point out a important point; we don't need a GUI which helps us save a lot on hardware resources. Just a bash shell and MySQL = very small footprint.

 

[Access Hero]

No experience with hosting but I'm TOLD that hostdepartment.com is inexpensive and flexible and has MySQL built in. Also, I'm TOLD that amazon.com developer tools allows you to rent virtual servers from amazon.com which are pre-configured. The price on both are quite reasonable, I'm told.

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

Does SME Server have the option to not install the A & P? It seems that he only want a database server and not a web server with scripting capability.

I'm not sure - I think so though - it uses YUM for package management - so even if it does install apache etc as part of the default setup, it should be pretty simple to strip it out afterwards.

Another lightweight alternative is YES-Linux.

Maybe it's just me being the cheapskate, but I'd be reluctant to buy hosting until such time as it became absolutely necessary.

 

[Banana]

Cool, thanks for sharing.

I don't blame you for not wanting to get hosting. In fact, that's what I did for a company I used to work for. Installed Slackware & MySQL and now our 3 offices had a dedicated database server. Worked well for a distributed setup, as we didn't have highly spec'd server or money to buy terminal server or big irons.