training and config 2

[jjpetrucelli]

2 q's can anyone recommend a good apache boot camp or refrence book? I need to learn apache quick

Also I know it is recommended that components are seperated but i'm looking at apache, mysql, and php. Could any of these be combined in a professional setting? Of course they can but if I were to combine any, what is recommended?

 

[lgarner]

Check the O'Reilly books. They tend to be very good.

By "combined in a professional setting", do you mean in a production system or a training course? I assume training, since they're almost always "combined" in production.

If I'm to pick two out of three, I'd combine Apache and PHP. The database is a different animal than the web server and web scripting language.

 

[jjpetrucelli]

not sure what you mean by system or training?

We have a system that records all of the info our program generates. web based db where we add, update, view this info. I would say that this is a mission critical (because its my responsibility) - medium traffic system.

Currently we have oracle, CF, and apache and it may change to mysql, php, and apache. At this time i am not directly responsible for the install / config of the oracle, cf, and apache but it appears that i maybe, very shortly, responsible for the install and config of all components (hardware and servers). Currently the Apache, CF, and Oracle are seperated. Wondering if that is nessicary with using the new products.

 

[lgarner]

OK, I think I understand your question.

I don't know ColdFusion, but PHP links to Apache such that I don't think you can really separate them onto different servers. You could use some servers to host the static content, and others to host the PHP content if you have a *really* busy site, but I think it'd be more efficient simply to double the number of Apache/PHP servers. Just my hunch.

MySQL can be run on a different server than the web host if you like. This is not necessary, but would be a good idea in a busy site. Depending upon what you mean by "medium traffic", you could probably use one server for all of it.

One of the best reasons to separate the database from the web server is to have multiple load-balanced web servers accessing a single database in the back. This would be simple to implement and easy to expand as needed.

 

[jjpetrucelli]

ok im with you, so lets say i have two boxes on with apach / php and one with mysql. I know this is an apache forum here but im looking at this scenario would the db still be the more demanding (hardware wise)?

 

[ericbrunson]

It depends on the application. If your pages are mostly static content but your SQL queries are complicated and the database is large, then the MySQL is going to be more of a load. If you only make one DB call per user session and the pages are tons of dynamic content generated in PHP, then obviously the apache server is going to have more load.

I think the best thing to do is write your application to run on a single machine, then if the load is too much it is very simple to move the mysql to a different box.

One tip: define a name in /etc/hosts or DNS to use for the database, but point it to 127.0.0.1 (localhost) and use the name in your connection definitions. Then if you need to migrate the database, all you have to do is update DNS and all your connections will go to the right machine.