January 2009 - Affordable MySQL Training and Support

Welcome to Open Query's newsletter #3, containing our training schedule for the upcoming months, other related news, and tips. This edition focuses on our new proactive support subscription offering, and the training schedule for the first quarter.

Proactive Support Subscriptions

Further developing our existing consulting offering, we now have a subscription model to suit your needs and be kind to your besieged budget. We work using email through our issue tracking system, instant messenging, SSH login, phone, and where needed on-site.

The Open Query support concept is simple, and scales for you as well as for us: when you subscribe to a number of hours per month, we can resource appropriately and assist more effectively when you do have urgent issues since we'll be in-the-know about your infrastructure; it's also cheaper. We offer packages of 2-4-8-16 hours per month, for periods of 3, 6 or 12 months. Billing is always per quarter.

Your monthly cost for this service can be as low as $235 + GST, with all the flexible options and benefits. If you commit before March 1st, we offer an even lower base rate for the subscribed period.

Key areas we assist with include but are not limited to...
- Schema and query design, performance analysis and tuning
- Problem analysis and resolution
- Setup of appropriate monitoring tools (not MySQL-specific)
- Ongoing preventative maintenance
- Database Audits based on configurations, security and server performance
- Design of MySQL Replication and clustering scenarios
- Guidance on upgrades, and migration from/to other databases

For instance, you can now allow your developers to email us a question while they're working on a particular issue, without anyone worrying about additional cost! There is no limitation of scope, we are more than happy to help you with any performance, replication or even clustering issue, and there is no limitation on login time either.
For more information, see http://openquery.com.au/services/mysql

To further discuss your needs and sign up, simply contact us: http://openquery.com.au/contact

Training for MySQL

Back to school! Your kids for sure, but what about your own professional development? Open Query keeps training affordable with unchanged pricing and its one-day course modules, including several new topics! The following course dates were already set late last year, but with the festive and holiday season a reminder is sometimes useful:

Brisbane - MySQL Developers/DBAs
- Mon 9 Feb: MySQL Query/Server Performance Analysis and Tuning (AUD 575 + GST)
- Tue 10 Feb: InnoDB Performance Tuning (AUD 575 + GST)

Brisbane - MySQL DBAs
- Mon 16 Feb: Installation, Security and User Management (AUD 475 + GST)

Sydney - MySQL Developers/DBAs
- Mon 23 Feb: MySQL Optimisation by Design (AUD 475 + GST)
- Tue 24 Feb: MySQL Locking, Transactions & Storage Engine Optimisation (AUD 475 + GST)
- Wed 25 Feb: MySQL Query/Server Performance Analysis and Tuning (AUD 575 + GST)

Melbourne - MySQL Developers/DBAs
- Mon 9 Mar: MySQL Optimisation by Design (AUD 475 + GST)
- Tue 10 Mar: MySQL Locking, Transactions & Storage Engine Optimisation (AUD 475 + GST)
- Wed 11 Mar: MySQL Query/Server Performance Analysis and Tuning (AUD 575 + GST)

Sydney - MySQL DBAs
- Mon 23 Mar: Installation, Security and User Management (AUD 475 + GST)
- Tue 24 Mar: Backup and Recovery (AUD 475 + GST)
- Wed 25 Mar: InnoDB Performance Tuning (AUD 575 + GST)

Melbourne - MySQL DBAs
- Mon 6 Apr: Installation, Security and User Management (AUD 475 + GST)
- Tue 7 Apr: Backup and Recovery (AUD 475 + GST)
- Wed 8 Apr: InnoDB Performance Tuning (AUD 575 + GST)

For bookings and questions, contact us today! http://openquery.com.au/training/contact

Training for PostgreSQL

In partnership with the Fujitsu Support PostgreSQL (FSP) Training Program we facilitate the following PostgreSQL courses:

Sydney - PostgreSQL Developers/DBAs
- Mon 2 Mar: Basic PostgreSQL Developer course (AUD 579 + GST)
- Tue 3 Mar: Basic PostgreSQL DBA course (AUD 579 + GST)
- Wed 4 Mar: Advanced PostgreSQL course (AUD 679 + GST)

For more details and bookings, see http://postgresql.fastware.com/news_and_events/events/training_march_2009

Tip: Try the OurDelta Enhanced Builds for MySQL

MySQL is in many cases included with the Linux distribution you use. However, these are often not the latest versions. In addition, the stock builds of MySQL are somewhat lacking in instrumentation for monitoring performance of both the overall server as well as individual queries. The free OurDelta enhanced builds for MySQL offer these and other additional featues, built on the current production versions of MySQL.

Described as "a distribution for MySQL", OurDelta offers neat repositories for Red Hat and CentOS, Debian and Ubuntu. This means you only have to download/configure a few things in your setup, and after that you can use your system's normal upgrade tools! Naturally, we wouldn't recommend anyone to just put a new version on their main production system. Start with a development or test server, then a production slave.

For more information and downloads, see http://ourdelta.org

Shave for Tuz

In support for the appeal for the endangered Tasmanian Devil, Open Query's Arjen Lentz got his head shaved by Linus Torvalds (yes, the one and only!) at the recent linux.conf.au in Hobart, Tasmania. For pictures and supporting links, see http://openquery.com.au/shave-for-tuz

Newsletter Subscriptions

You will shortly be able to control your newsletter subscription through the Open Query website at http://openquery.com.au, and people who have been to one or more training days will also gain access to the special Alumni pages which include course materials and other information. Please login or register today! On the site will also find an increasing number of resources and links which you may find useful.

If you want to no longer receive this newsletter or other communications from Open Query (we do try to limit this to the absolute minimum actually, which is exactly why we're starting the newsletter so that all info is neatly rolled into one email), just let us know and we will honour your request.

Also, any suggestions or feedback about the newsletter are most welcome!

You can always contact Open Query via http://openquery.com.au/contact