Individual or shared databases (with vb3)

[rastacat]

I'd appreciate advice as to which is best and why. Let me briefly explain.

I have several licenses and setup one site with vb3 and all the photopost products and they each have their own mysql database (sharing vb3 members)

The other site has the same programs but I shared the vb3 database - as I seen suggested here, both data (different table prefixes) and members

They seem to both work fine in testing but not sure which is the best system to use. I asked on the vb forums and was only told that if their database is shared then they will not support the installation.

Threads here implied faster and more efficient operation all in one database.

I'm looking for long term reliability. The server is dedicated, 3.06, 1 gb ram linux/apache.

Being new to mysql, I simply don't know which setup will give the best results.

Forums (to be transferred) currently have 15,000 members and 300,000 posts and I expect the classifieds and photopost to be popular as well.

Thanks for any insight.
Al

[rcull]

This sounds like an interesting idea! I look forward to hearing the opinions. I am going to search around and see what has been covered.

Could using a shared database be a problem when upgrading?

[Chuck S]

It is generally better to use a shared database for faster operation between programs.

The reason VB will not support using multiple programs in one database is generally the same as why software companies do not support code hacking. You never know what would cause a problem with mixed tables like that.

However I think there stance is a bit extreme. I mean come on since mysql is an external application and database corruption does happen sometimes why should a software manufacturer be concerned whether the database is shared or not. Its not like we are liable for anything.

In fact its a customers responsibility to make sure they have mysql backups and file backups so Vb's response is just plain weird.

I would always suggest one database for best operation especially when you have programs that interact with each other