Ran Wei said
Some background first: I've used MySQL for two decently-sized programming projects in the past, on the developer side. More recently I was hired to design, build and administer the back-end of a web application. MySQL seemed the natural choice. With background only in the developer's role, I had a huge amount to learn.
I started out by buying the MySQL Administrator's Guide and Reference:
http://www.amazon.com/MySQL-Administrators-Guide-Language-Reference/dp/0672328704/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244855803&sr=8-4
and a more general book on Database Administration:
http://www.amazon.com/Database-Administration-Complete-Practices-Procedures/dp/0201741296/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244855921&sr=8-1
The former was pretty terrible, and it's all available online anyways so there's absolutely no reason to buy it. Why is it so bad? Despite being written by MySQL, it is completely impractical and totally bogged down with details. I defy you to figure out how to efficiently back up your database by using that guide. I couldn't.
The latter was very useful for introducing concepts like data normalization and, while a little out of date, gives a quick sense of the products that are out there. I highly recommend it as a first read. but it's not MySQL specific - so where to go then?
Finally, I found this book. It took me about 1 minute to find the tools I would need to back up a database and another 10 seconds to find a detailed discussion of what's going on when you back up a database.
It's also very recent (as of 2009/06) - it really reflects the state of the tools out there and I was pleasantly surprised to find that all of the developments I had been reading about in my online research were reflected in the book. Instead of glossing over complex topics like MySQL Cluster, memcached, DRBD, Linux HA (see, I wasn't kidding about its coverage), it points you to external resources that are actually helpful.
I haven't yet read all of it but, to my knowledge, there is nothing comparable out there. If you have a good idea of the basics behind database administration and need a practical guide to how to actually administer a MySQL database, including the tools available to you, I'd seriously recommend that you take a look at this book.
LIMITATIONS:
- I was a bit concerned about the book's information on early-stage tools like MySQL Proxy and MySQL 6.0. They haven't been released for general use and are not certified as stable, but the book just lists them with other tools as if you could just drop them in. Be careful.
- As another reader pointed out, it's not the easiest read. But then, if you've never used SQL, never mind MySQL before, then trying to understand concepts like the difference between READ COMMITTED and SERIALIZABLE isolation levels will surely result in pain and death. This book is much better if you have a question like "How do I backup a MySQL database?", "How do I make a trigger", or "How do I set up replication?"
jbrandt said
I've been running MySQL servers for a few years, and while the online documentation is pretty good, the MySQL Administrator's Bible fills in some holes in that documentation with examples and discussions of some less obvious techniques and processes. I found the book's discussion of database replication more useful than the online information and with its help I was able to set up and tune a replication setup very quickly.
I've been recommending this book to other MySQL users without hesitation.
J. Overstreet said
I am currently a Microsoft SQL Server developer that is considering switching to MySQL for a few of our production systems.
This book is an absolute help to me in learning the ins and outs of MySQL. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is interested in or works with MySQL!
scg said
I purchased this book to learn MySQL and get back up to speed since I have been out of the computer world for a few years. I found on page 54 that the author finally tells you that the SAKILA sample DB is used thoughout the book. Well I don't know why because on the MySQL website in the developer forums you will find all the way back to September of 2006 the fact that the SAKILA DB fails to install for many reasons and there are even questions if it is even maintained or supported any longer. Many of the posters to the forum strike me as very experienced. So I am not alone in my frustrations and that thus far there is no answer to the problem. I believe the author should have used a different sample DB for the book or included a know working version of SAKILA on a CD in the book.
Secondly on page 68 you see the graphic of SQLyog Enterprise Trail Version that is being used but nowhere is there a mention that for non-commerical use, that is, your own personal use it will cost you $79. Gee so if I what to get past the 30 day trial while studying from the authors book I will have to invest another $79 beyound the cost of this book? Why is this little tid bit ignored and buried on page 68?
I could go on but the back cover of this book doesn't tell the truth about the target audience. If you are trying to learn SQL on your own or trying to refresh yourself this is not the book. If you have an intermediate understanding or better then this book will do you some good.
Comments