I have mysql-server-5.0 running on several Debian machines, although they are desktop or laptop systems used for everyday, since sometimes I need some apps relying on a database, and don't have a dedicated database server around. On such systems, I'm using memory intensive apps like X, firefox, and others, and don't want to wait for my machine to swap endlessly.
Then it's particularly important that I don't pollute memory with lots of unused programs, or that existing running daemons are configured the right way...
In this respect, it's too bad that mysql server was eating a lot of memory, whereas I just have a couple tables, and not used a lot by the applications that need them. Mysql is supposed to run in a few megabytes (tens of -) in memory, so why does it take more than a hundred megs in mem (at least if I trust gmemusage) ?
It seems that the default configuration for the Debian package won't be particularly good for me.
I noticed that removing InnoDB support in the server saves tens of megabytes of RAM, probably used for buffers initialised by default at server's InnoDB engine startup.
To save this, just add the following to the /etc/mysql/my.cnf file :
skip-innodb
Of course, if you are using InnoDB tables/databases, that won't fit... but I have never noticed a Debian-packaged app that does so... Ah, and yes, I filed a wishlist ticket in Debian's BTS : http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=384399 ... bug or feature ? Maybe someone's going to comment in the ticket ? ...
Any comments welcome, of course.
Update 20060926 : it seems the Debian maintainer responded to my report by adding a mention in mysql.cnf. He doesn't want to remove InnoDB by default, but at least, the curious administrator will be able to save some memory ;)
