Understanding Your Server

Before jumping into optimization, you need to understand your server and the components within it. No matter what’s happening inside of your database, your server can become the biggest bottleneck of your database – understanding what server you use and how its components work together will allow you to understand how best to work with the server to achieve your goals. Some servers will tie your hands by default (think shared hosting), but if you have access to the internals of your server by using a VPS or a dedicated server, you have a chance to modify their parameters as you wish.