New MySQL Setup For Faster Query Processing
Update
We’re currently migrating all our servers to MySQL 8. Learn more about the migration process in our blog post.
Two of the most frequent reasons a site might be slow are unoptimized PHP processes and heavy MySQL queries. Website code optimization is always a crucial part of the constant battle for more website speed. However, webmasters hosting with SiteGround, have always had a reliable ally by their side in this quest.
Recently we have announced the new Ultrafast PHP, which significantly speeds up the processing of PHP scripts and improve the website performance up to 30%.
As a natural next step in our efforts to offer a premium and superfast service, we deployed a server-side solution to optimise database queries which has already brought down the number of slow queries between 10 and 20 times!
What are slow MySQL queries and why they matter ?
If you are managing an active site with a database, you probably understand that when a visitor enters your site, there are tons of scripts that start running, some of which ask your database for information. For example, if you have an online shop and a visitor is trying to purchase an item, your store should check for its availability in the database and display if it’s possible to be ordered. That check triggers a MySQL query. And depending on how that query is written it may be quite heavy and time-consuming to be processed by the server. For you as a webmaster, these slow queries are a problem because you will be losing clients. You know how visitors drop out of the site when they have to wait longer than 2-3 seconds for a page to load? Well, you get it. For us as your host, we don’t like it when our servers get throttled processing too many slow queries because this means that the CPU and RAM of the machine get blocked and cannot be used for other processes, which are also important for yours and the other websites hosted on the server.
What did we do?
The battle with slow MySQL queries is an ongoing process, which involves both the webmaster and the host. That is why we recently launched a new MySQL setup on our servers, which takes an innovative approach to distributing the server RAM and allocating it to the MySQL. The new setup allows a much higher number of parallel requests to be processed simultaneously and this has a great impact on the effective handling of heavy MySQL queries. So great that the Sys Admins, watching the server load after the new MySQL setup launch, still don’t believe it – they saw a drop in slow queries between 10 and 20 times!
All of our latest service improvements such as the Ultrafast PHP and now the MySQL setup are possible thanks to two things – the Google Cloud platform and the switch from cPanel to Site Tools. Since moving to Google Cloud, we upgraded our server configurations with more RAM. The RAM unit price is not cheaper, but working in the cloud offers possibilities for better distribution of that resource among different machines. And the fact that we don’t comply with third-party’s software resource requirements such as cPanel, gives us more freedom to innovate. Our DevOps feel empowered to create and keep developing smart technologies that benefit the greater majority of the sites we host spot on!
Who gets it?
Everyone hosted on our shared Site Tools servers already got the new MySQL setup! If you have been seeing an enhancement in the performance for the last week or so, it’s because of the new setup.
That means it’s less likely that you hear from us asking you to fix a slow query and “socially-distancing” your site due to that. Fewer slow queries, faster servers, less hassle for you!
Cloud accounts are also scheduled to receive the new MySQL setup by the end of February, 2021.
Still a SiteGround client on cPanel? We expect to migrate everyone by the end of March 2021 so all you need to do is wait just a little bit longer.
Comments ( 62 )
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Janine Rauwenhoff
can you please upgrade MySQL to version 5.7 as it is required by the latest version of moodle Also am i ugraded to the MY SQL for a faster website speed ? Kindest, Janine Rauwenhoff
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
It is available on Site Tools, once your account is migrated you will automatically start using it. We should complete migrations by March.
Brian
What could help alot of people, was some default settings for some wordpress themes... Divi, avada and other well known.. could save support some calls and time for us users. Get at guy to optimize speed on 5-6 of the most used themes, add em as a selection in the SG optimizer. Just a thought.
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
Well, we could do that but that would mean we interfere with others' software which is not well accepted if not forbiden for plugins and themes in the official WordPress repository. Generally, a theme should not be doing stuff like minification, combination and caching on the fly but theme providers are doing it so they can advertise their themes better and because they run on standard hosting providers that don't have any special caching solutions and rely on plugins. Otherwise it is 5 minutes of coding to disable their optimizations and enable ours but sometimes our hands are tied...
Mark
Good answer!
Simon Womersley
Thanks for doing this. I find all your service tweaks make my websites fast and I don't need to do anything :) I've found for some time now one of my websites is slow to connect. Once loaded it's super-fast (via SG Optimiser and basic speed optimisation tactics). It's just the initial load/ connection. Maybe out of this blog's scope, but is there any speed benefit of moving my domain registrar, so it's also with SiteGround?
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
Thanks for the kind words :) It doesn't matter where your domain is registered, it won't affect your loading speeds.
Simon Womersley
Thanks for getting back to me. I'll tick that off the list and investigate some more.
Josh
Great to hear - thank you! For someone with a Cloud account, and on Site Tools, will there be a way to check if we have been switched to the new version other than "feeling it"? Thanks!
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
Once we complete raising the minimum cloud configuration we will deploy the latest changes. There will be a minimal downtime for the service restart in the least busy time of the day so we don't plan on mailing and scheduling. I would say it's best to monitor the blog for new posts since we will announce more info on the matter soon.
Jean-S.
Following this too. I'm on Cloud Account and my minimum requirements (CPU, Memory) have been upgraded a few days ago, but no noticeable change in terms of speed.
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
The new MySQL setup is probably not yet applied on your Cloud account since it rolls out after the resources increase.
Sid @ DigitalWellness.directory
Amazing new updates, this is why we recommend only SiteGround to all our clients!
Lazhar
Hristo and the team have been doing some amazing work over the last few months with speed optimizations and overall tangible benefits to us, website owners. Thank you all.
Jason B
Great stuff Siteground. I've been trying to get my sites to 100% page speed and now the move to ultra fast PHP and new mySQL theyvare literally there Consistently 98 99%. What I have noticed however is that both Google and Lighthouse now report unused css process is slowing site speed. When looking into it they are http://siteground . Anyideas what this might be. They never showed up before migration.
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
Our migrations does not affect your code or the CSS generated. Usually, that happens when you combine your CSS files - it saves requests but there's unused css on some pages.
RSA
Thank you for your hard work on this! I've found that our "front end" loading speeds are very good for our WP Woocommerce site. The challenge has been slow, sometimes very slow response and MySQL database errors on the admin side due to timeouts. I've noted posts on WP and other forums complaining about this with SG hosting. Hopefully this will help address those issues. Thanks again!
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
The thing is that the latest WooCommerce versions are very heavy on the admin backend. In particular the very slow analytics screen they have added. You should check the "Remove WooCommerce Bloat" plugin and give it a try. It removes that page and the tons of queries it generates.
Mike
Is there any risk of some sites not working correctly with this update? Is there a way to test this change before we receive it? Thanks
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
The update is mostly "under the hood" and it won't affect the queries result but rather their performance. We don't expect any problems at all, most probably, your site is already updated :)
Allen Hicks
How does the new Google Cloud setup require a CDN?
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
Whether you need a CDN or not depends on your particular website and the audience you're after. Most sites don't since they target the same continent they are hosted in.
Chris
Hi Hristo, I have a Cloud Server. How can I check if my site is running the new MySQL setup? Thanks,
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
We're progressing with the update, I expect that by the end of next week we will update all Cloud servers but I can't give you exact date for your particular account.
Chris
Will there ab an annoucement somewhere?
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
We don't plan on sending mass mails or another blog post for this. I believe today or tomorrow we will have all Clouds updated :)
Georgia
How does this impact people using CloudFlare?
Hristo Pandjarov Siteground Team
It doesn't really matter if you're using Cloudflare or not, the requests to your databse will just be served faster :)
Peter James
is there a roadmap/planned update for the upgrade to Mysql Ver 8 as needed by the recent update to Moodle? Many thanks
Gabriela Andonova Siteground Team
Thank you for your comment, Peter. We appreciate your interest in MySQL 8.0, and we want to assure you that it is on our development roadmap. At this stage, we don't have a specific timeline for when the change will be implemented on our servers. In the meantime, we support Moodle versions up to 4.1, available through our App Installer in Site Tools. Feel free to contact us anytime if you have any further questions.
Maarten
This week Joomla 5 was released, requiring MySQL 8 for installation. Understandable if its not on top of the development roadmap with mainly WP users @ Siteground, but maybe this is a good reason to move it up?
Gabriela Andonova Siteground Team
Thanks for the comment, Maarten! We'll definitely consider your suggestion about prioritizing MySQL 8 in our development roadmap. We appreciate your feedback and your patience as we continue to improve our services for all users, including those using Joomla.
Justin Kerr
I also run Joomla and am looking at my hosting options if mySQL 8 can't be supported. It would be great to know specifically where SiteGround is placing this in your roadmap so we can plan our CMS software upgrades accordingly. Thanks!
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
We've already started upgrading to MySQL 8 on a server-by-server basis, running careful health checks after each migration, to make sure we can proceed with an upgrade at scale without any issues. Starting from April 1st, we will switch to a more massive migration of servers to MySQL 8. While we cannot provide an exact ETA for the completion of each account, we want to assure you that it is our priority to complete the process as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding in the meantime. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Yosh
We need MySQL 8.0 asap. Until then we can't upgrade our Joomla sites to Joomla 5.x. What's taking you so long?
Gabriela Andonova Siteground Team
Hello, Yosh. We understand your anticipation of the MySQL 8.0 upgrade. While we can't provide a specific timeline at the moment, we want to assure you that it is on our to-do list. In the meantime, we're committed to ensuring the security and optimization of our current MySQL setup. We'll update you on any developments via our blog. (As an interim solution, you might consider switching from MySQL to PostgreSQL, which will enable you to successfully upgrade to version 5.x). Our support team is available 24/7 for any further questions you may have.
Jeremy
The PostgreSQL does NOT work. Joomla 5 requirement is PostgreSQL 12 while SiteGround server only offer version 10.21 We need MySql 8.0.13 or MariaDB 10.4.0 or PostgreSQL 12 ASAP. You guys were once early adopters and cutting edge technology but are falling behind... I can't believe I'd have to switch to GoDaddy to run a Joomla 5 website...
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
Hello Jeremy, thank you for commenting! We have servers running PostgreSQL version 14+ and it is possible to configure Joomla 5 to run there. For more info, please reach us from the Help Center so we can find your account and take it from there: https://stgrnd.co/contactus/ . We also want to emphasize our existing MySQL setup is heavily customized for up to a 20 times reduction in slow queries compared to the standard MySQL setup. That means enhanced performance out of the box. Part of our upgrade process to MySQL 8.0 includes preserving the enhancements done on the old MySQL version and making them available on the new one as well. Precisely because we want to bring the best technology to our clients.
Yosh
Although Joomla core supports PostgreSQL, many 3rd party components don't...
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
That's one of the reasons we've already committed resources towards the upgrade to MySQL 8. Still, technical time is required to do the upgrade properly. We need to avoid compatibility issues across the many sites we host and we also need to transfer all of the custom security and performance enhancements implemented by our team on MySQL 5 to MySQL 8. The goal is, as always, to offer our clients a stable and fast platform for their projects. We'll keep you posted!
Dave
I was wondering if there was any update on MySQL 8.0? I appreciate timelines can't be given, but do we have a rough time frame such as 'first quarter 2024' or end of 2024'?
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
Hello Dave! Thank you for the question. We'll notify our customers when the new MySQL version is available on our servers. Our team is already working towards upgrading the existing MySQL setup. We're extensively testing the new MySQL version under a wide range of conditions with the end goal of seamless transition and integration across all of our servers. As things are very dynamic, we're not able to provide a time frame as we don't want to mislead you. We appreciate your understanding!
John
Well, just to add my voice to the throng: I can't upgrade Moodle until I have MySQL version 8.
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
Hello John. Thank you for commenting! Most likely you've seen the other comments but just to be sure - our team is already taking steps toward upgrading the MySQL setup. We're doing extensive tests and preparations to ensure migrating all of our customers will be a seamless transition, no matter what CMS they are using as an example. To clarify - if you'd like to upgrade Moodle, you can utilize PostgreSQL on SiteGround. Reach us from the Help Center so we can help further if you'd like to go with that option.
Steve
I am not understanding the time it is taking to update the MYSQL to V8? You mention the development team is working on it, that is more than 10 months ago, MYSQL 8.0 was released in 2018. One would hope we would be ahead of the curve not falling way, way behind.
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
Hello Steve! Thank you for the question, we can see why this is a pressing issue. After reviewing the associated SiteGround account, we're happy to note that our colleague assisted by clarifying the MySQL upgrade questions over the recent chat. In short - our team is in the process of upgrading the MySQL version, still, we have two major tasks to address. Ensuring the transition goes as smoothly as possible for the diverse range of websites we host is one, we want stability for our clients. Another major point we're addressing as we're writing this comment - the current MySQL setup is custom-modded by us to supply lots of reduction in the slow DB queries compared to a normal MySQL setup as one example. We're working on transferring those enhancements to MySQL ver 8.0 as we're always in pursuit of delivering the best performance to our clients.
Steve
For sure I had the initial contact, but as mentioned there is no date of completion and this is the only place where we can get and share information with the community for ideas and to track to the progress (unless you have a link to a page detailing current status and projections). It was suggested to me that Postgres be installed but that will not suit. I hope you understand the frustration when we are not supplied a roadmap of the work so we have no indication if it will be next week, months or a year away. There are major updates in functionality for both Joomla and Moodle that we need to take advantage of to help our business grow and these cannot be implemented until the new version is in place. We cannot plan our future business models until the updates are in place.
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
Hello Steve. We appreciate the additional info, you're rasing good points. We know that many of the sites we host are business related and that's one of the big reasons to approach the upgrade from MySQL 5 to MySQL 8 with utmost care. The goal is to plan carefully and ensure that the big number of sites we're hosting right now won't be negatively impacted. Another task our team faces is to port all of the security and performance enhancements from ver 5 to ver 8 as they are important. Although we can't supply a specific roadmap as things are highly dynamic, we can say that we're moving towards MySQL 8 as we speak and we'll keep you posted.
Miro
Any news regarding upgrade to Mysql8? We really need to upgrade Moodle on several accounts. It was the summer 2023 when I asked the first time... Please be more precise
Ivan Naidenov Siteground Team
Hey, Miro, thank you for your question. We are aware of the importance of MySQL 8 for some of our users, especially with the release of applications like Joomla 5 and Moodle 4.3 that require it. We are working on the update as we're writing this. The thing is - the MySQL setup we're using is heavily customized by our team to enhance its security and performance when compared to the vanilla MySQL. We want our clients to benefit from those mods and that means we have to export them to the newer MySQL 8 which takes time to do properly. We'll keep you informed about the progress via our usual outlets - email, blog, social media. You can read the other comments here for additional details.
Malcolm
Mysql8...??? All of us on Joomla are stuck and not able to move to Joomla 5. Any update on when this will be available?
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
Hey there, Malcolm, The SiteGround Team here. We are currently in the process of upgrading our servers to MySQL 8. The upgrade will be gradually rolled out to all our users. While we currently cannot provide an exact timeline for when your account will receive it, rest assured that we will notify each client specifically via email about any upcoming changes. In the meantime, if you have any other questions or require assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out directly. We are here to help.
LJ
If I understand correctly, you are done with MySQL 8 customization, and only the server upgrading remains?
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
Hey there, absolutely, you've got it right. We're currently upgrading our servers to MySQL 8 in stages. Before rolling out the update on your account, you will receive an email and a notification in your Client Area. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We would be happy to help.
Dave
Hi, do you have a rough time frame for when customer upgrades are expected to be completed? our hosting package runs out in the next few months an i'm not able to renew unless on MySQL 8.
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
Hey there, Dave. Unfortunately, currently we are unable to provide a specific timeline. Upgrading to MySQL 8 is a complex process, and we really like to make sure everything goes smoothly for everyone, regardless of which version you're currently on. We are addressing any compatibility issues with previous versions on our services carefully before moving on, that's why we can't really give you an ETA. Your patience and understanding during this process are highly appreciated. If you have any other questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out directly to our support team. They would be happy to take a look at your account and assist you further.
Eddy D
It will ne extremely helpful if Sitegound can expedite the MySQL upgrades. I have been using Siteground since 2014, and all of my websites are on Joomla. For the first time, I have started looking for alternative hosting solutions because I can't upgrade to Joomla 5 given that Siteground does not support MySQL 8. I love the quality of service at Siteground and I would hate to leave, but I may not have much choice if I can have MySQL 8. Also, I know that you are hesitant to provide a timeline, probably because you do not want to miss a date you would have committed to. I understand that, however, I think it is creating even more issues for us users, because it makes us believe that you are nowhere close to deploying MySQL 8. Perhaps it could take you another 3 years, who knows.. if you could give us at leave a very general and wide timeframe, that will still be a lot more helpful than just not saying anything.
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
Hello, We've already started upgrading to MySQL 8 on a server-by-server basis, running careful health checks after each migration, to make sure we can proceed with an upgrade at scale without any issues. Starting from April 1st, we will switch to a more massive migration of servers to MySQL 8. So even though we cannot provide an exact roadmap right now, we hope to have an ETA for the completion of the migration very soon. We will make sure to update all clients shortly, and will also be rolling out timely email notifications with specific dates regarding when your account will be upgraded. If you have any further questions or require assistance, do not hesitate to reach out.
Dan
Hi Lina, is there any further update on timings for the MySQL upgrades please? We have a number of Joomla sites that need to move to Joomla 5. Are you prioritising servers that include Joomla installs?
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
Hey there, we are on track with our schedule and plan to have all our clients upgraded to MySQL 8 by the end of June. While we understand the importance of the upgrade for Joomla 5 compatibility, we're currently not prioritizing migrations based on specific applications like Joomla. Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition for all our clients as quickly as possible. However, we would be happy to check your account and provide more detailed information regarding when your server will be upgraded. To do so, please reach out directly to our team by following the steps outlined in this article: stgrnd.co/contactus/. We look forward to hearing from you!
Generosus
Dear SiteGround: 1. We were one of the lucky few that were updated to SQL 8 today, April 12, 2024. We noticed, however, we were updated to SQL 8.0.34 (released on July 18, 2023). Why are you not updating customers to the latest SLQ version, SQL 8.0.36 (released on January 16, 2024)? 2. Your instructions for checking our SQL version are incorrect: Impossible to check our SQL version using SiteTools. What did we miss? Confirmation: https://prnt.sc/412reaiyjDt_ We have to go through our Theme's System Status section to find out. Please review and fix you information. URL: https://www.siteground.com/kb/how_to_check_the_mysql_version_on_the_server_hosting_my_acco/ Also, as others have suggested in this comments section, it's quite sad we have to communicate with SiteGround about your SQL updates via comments to an old blog and not a public forum or applicable blog. SiteGround has been reactive, not proactive, for a long time.You guys need to release a blog about your SQL 8 efforts (including rollout schedule) and keep it current, NOW! Thank you for your help and undertanding. Cheers!
Lina Asenova Siteground Team
Hey there, we would be happy to address your concerns. Regarding the MySQL version update, we understand your query about not being on the very latest release, MySQL 8.0.36. However, we use Percona MySQL for our updates, which releases versions slightly later than vanilla MySQL. In January, when we were finalizing our tests for the upgrade, the stable version was 8.0.34. When migrating millions of sites, it’s crucial to maintain stability and consistency across all migrations, hence the decision to update to this particular version first. Once we complete the mass-scale upgrade, we will certainly continue updating our MySQL versions as soon as newer, stable versions are tested and confirmed secure and efficient. This approach ensures minimal disruption and maximizes reliability for all our users. For checking the MySQL version in SiteTools, we believe there has been a misunderstanding as you need to actually access phpMyAdmin. Here are the steps: go to Site Tools > Site > phpMyAdmin > Access phpMyAdmin. In the phpMyAdmin interface, under the “Database Server” section on the right side, you can find the “Server Version” which displays the MySQL version. To your question about the lack of a blogpost earlier, we have been gradually emailing clients on servers due for upgrade, because we were rolling it out step by step, until we were certain there were no major issues. We just released a new blog post detailing our efforts regarding the MySQL 8 upgrade, including the rest of the rollout schedule. You can find it here: https://www.siteground.com/blog/upgrading-to-mysql-8/. This timing is simply due to the fact that we wanted to keep all details and edge cases in check before committing to a strict plan and informing all our clients about the next steps.
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