We have a moderately large production MySQL database. Periodically, we will run commands, usually via a rails migration, that while running, bog down the database. As a specific example, we might add an index to a large table.
Is there any method that can reduce the priority MySQL gives to a specific task. A sort of “nice” within MySQL itself? I found this, which is what inspired the question:
PostgreSQL tips and tricks
Since adding an index causes the work to be done within the DB and MySQL process, lowering the priority of the Rails migration process seems like it won’t help. Are there other ways we can lower the priority?
We use multiple, replicated database servers to make changes like this.
In our case, db1 is the master, replicated to db2. (db1->db2).
Start by making the change to db2. If things lock, replication will stall, but that’s OK.
Move your traffic to db2. Any remnant traffic going to db1 will replicate over, so you won’t lose anything.
Once there’s no traffic on db1, rebuild it as a slave of db2 (db2->db1).
That’s the general idea and you get very little downtime and you don’t have to pull an all-nighter! We actually have three servers, so it’s a little more complicated, but not much.
Good luck.