What Is MySQL Server? |
| MySQL is a database system that can be used to provide extensive database facilities on a web site, normally in conjunction with Linux or Unix web hosting and PHP scripting. Typical uses would be an online catalogue of goods for sale that the customer can browse and select items to purchase. Or an online booking system for holidays or flights or theatres where you can interrogate availability of a service online and make a reservation from your browser. Such systems generally require considerable investment in terms of hardware, software licences and technical resources. Whereas a smaller database system using MS-Access for example can reside on a Windows web server alongside the user's main web site, MySQL databases have to reside on a specific MySQL Server, seperate from the rest of the site. This can mean a cost of many thousands of pounds per year just in hosting costs. That's fine if you are a major store or airline or holiday company where the online business can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds or more. But for the smaller user the cost can be prohibitive. There are two answers for the small to medium user. Either use a different database such as MS-Access which will run on shared Windows 2000 hosting or use shared MySQL hosting where you take a part of one of our MySQL servers for as little as £120 per annum. |
