Database performance is a key factor in the stable operation of web applications, analytics systems, and enterprise software. On a cloud server, it’s especially important to optimize resources, as both speed and maintenance costs directly depend on it. In this article, we’ll go through practical steps to improve database performance using the capabilities of the Serverspace platform.
1. Choose the Right Server Configuration
Start by assessing your application’s needs:
- Small databases (e.g., blogs or CMS): 2–4 vCPU, 4–8 GB RAM.
- Medium workloads (CRM, ERP): 4–8 vCPU, 8–16 GB RAM.
- Analytics, Big Data: 8+ vCPU, 32+ GB RAM.
With Serverspace, you can flexibly configure the number of vCPUs and RAM, and modify the server configuration on the fly without downtime.
2. Use Fast Storage
Read/write speed is critical for databases:
- Choose SSD or NVMe disks.
- Use a separate disk for database storage (e.g., /var/lib/mysql) to reduce I/O contention.
Serverspace offers high-speed SSD storage and the ability to attach additional volumes.
3. Optimize Your DBMS Settings
Most databases are not optimized for load by default. Examples:
MySQL / MariaDB:
- innodb_buffer_pool_size: up to 70–80% of available RAM.
- query_cache_size: can be disabled in modern versions.
- slow_query_log: helps identify slow queries.
PostgreSQL:
- shared_buffers: 25–40% of RAM.
- work_mem: 4–64 MB depending on workload.
- effective_cache_size: up to 75% of RAM.
4. Indexing and Query Structure
- Use indexes on columns involved in WHERE, JOIN, and ORDER BY.
- Analyze execution plans (EXPLAIN in MySQL/PostgreSQL).
- Break down complex queries into simpler ones.
- Archive or delete outdated data.
5. Monitoring and Analysis
Monitoring database behavior helps identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
Tools:
- htop, iostat, vmstat — for general server load (Linux).
- pg_stat_statements (PostgreSQL) — for query frequency and performance.
- MySQLTuner — quick assessment of MySQL configuration.
With Serverspace, you can quickly deploy monitoring tools like Zabbix or Grafana, or use third-party SaaS monitoring solutions.
6. Set Up Caching
- Use query cache (if applicable) or tools like Memcached or Redis for frequently requested data.
- Implement caching at the application level for results, API responses, and sessions.
7. Distribute the Load
If your database is under heavy load:
- Offload reads to replicas.
- Use sharding for large tables.
- Move some logic to background tasks (e.g., via message queues).
8. Non-Disruptive Backups
Backups can slow down databases under high load:
- Use incremental or logical backups.
- Configure snapshots in the Serverspace panel — a fast way to preserve the server state.
Conclusion
Improving database performance is a combination of the right infrastructure, well-configured database settings, and continuous monitoring. With Serverspace, you can flexibly scale resources, fine-tune your environment, and achieve high reliability even as demand grows.