MySQL Performance Optimization Guide

MySQL Performance Optimization Guide for HMIS Administrators

Overview

This guide helps system administrators optimize MySQL database performance to improve HMIS application speed, especially for pharmacy module operations like autocomplete searches and stock management.

When to Use This Guide

Apply these optimizations if you experience:

• Slow autocomplete dropdowns in pharmacy sales
• Long loading times when selecting items or stock
• General application slowness during peak usage
• Database timeouts or connection issues

Before You Begin

Prerequisites

• Administrative access to the MySQL server
• Ability to restart MySQL service
• At least 1GB of available RAM on the server
• Database backup completed (recommended)

System Requirements Check

1. Check available memory:

   free -h

   You need at least 2GB total RAM for optimal performance.

2. Check current MySQL configuration:

   mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'innodb_buffer_pool_size';"

3. Verify MySQL version:

   mysql -u root -p -e "SELECT VERSION();"

Step 1: Database Index Optimization (Automatic)

The HMIS system includes automatic database migration for performance indexes.

Using the Admin Interface

1. Access the Migration Page:

   • Navigate to: http://your-server:8080/hmis/faces/admin/database_migration.xhtml
   • Login with administrator credentials

2. Execute Migration v2.1.11:

   • Look for "Performance optimization indexes" migration
   • Click "Execute All Pending Migrations"
   • Wait for completion (approximately 5-15 minutes)

3. Verify Success:

   • Check that migration status shows "Executed"
   • No errors in the execution log

Expected Results

• 50-80% faster autocomplete searches
• Improved stock filtering performance
• Better overall pharmacy module responsiveness

Step 2: MySQL Configuration Optimization (Manual)

Important Notice

⚠️ These changes require MySQL service restart and will cause temporary downtime. Plan the restart during maintenance hours.

Configuration Steps

1. Backup Current Configuration

sudo cp /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf.backup.$(date +%Y%m%d)

2. Calculate Optimal Settings

Choose your server type and apply the corresponding configuration:

Small Server (2-4GB RAM)

# Add to /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf
[mysqld]
# Memory optimization
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 1024M
innodb_log_file_size = 256M
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 2

# Connection optimization
max_connections = 100
query_cache_size = 64M

Medium Server (4-8GB RAM)

# Add to /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf
[mysqld]
# Memory optimization
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 2048M
innodb_log_file_size = 256M
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 2

# Connection optimization
max_connections = 150
query_cache_size = 128M

Large Server (8GB+ RAM)

# Add to /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf
[mysqld]
# Memory optimization
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 4096M
innodb_log_file_size = 512M
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 2

# Connection optimization
max_connections = 200
query_cache_size = 256M

3. Edit Configuration File

1. Open the configuration file:

   sudo nano /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf

2. Add the appropriate settings from above at the end of the file

3. Save and exit (Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter in nano)

4. Restart MySQL Service

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo systemctl restart mysql
sudo systemctl status mysql

CentOS/RHEL:

sudo systemctl restart mysqld
sudo systemctl status mysqld

Traditional init systems:

sudo service mysql restart
sudo service mysql status

Step 3: Verify Optimization Results

1. Check Configuration Applied

mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'innodb_buffer_pool_size';"
mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'max_connections';"

2. Test Application Performance

1. Access HMIS pharmacy module

2. Test autocomplete functionality:

   • Go to pharmacy sales page
   • Try typing in item search boxes
   • Notice improved response time

3. Monitor for any issues:

   • Check for connection errors
   • Verify normal application functionality

3. Performance Monitoring

Check these metrics weekly:

# Check database connections
mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW STATUS LIKE 'Threads_connected';"

# Check buffer pool efficiency
mysql -u root -p -e "SHOW ENGINE INNODB STATUS;" | grep -A 5 "BUFFER POOL"

Troubleshooting

MySQL Won't Start After Configuration Changes

1. Check error logs:

   sudo tail -f /var/log/mysql/error.log

2. Common issues and fixes:

   Insufficient memory error:

   • Reduce innodb_buffer_pool_size to 512M
   • Restart MySQL service

   Log file size error:

   • Remove old log files: sudo rm /var/lib/mysql/ib_logfile*
   • Restart MySQL service

Application Still Slow

1. Verify migration executed:

   • Check admin migration page
   • Ensure v2.1.11 shows as "Executed"

2. Check available memory:

   free -h
   top

3. Review MySQL settings:

   • Ensure configuration changes were saved
   • Verify MySQL restart completed successfully

Connection Issues

If you see "too many connections" errors:

1. Temporary fix:

   mysql -u root -p -e "SET GLOBAL max_connections = 200;"

2. Permanent fix:

   • Increase max_connections in configuration file
   • Restart MySQL service

Regular Maintenance

Monthly Tasks

1. Optimize database tables:

   mysql -u root -p -e "OPTIMIZE TABLE coop.ITEM, coop.STOCK, coop.ITEMBATCH;"

2. Check disk space:

   df -h

3. Review slow query log (if enabled)

Monitor Performance Indicators

• Autocomplete response time: Should be under 1 second
• Page load times: Pharmacy pages should load within 3-5 seconds
• Database connections: Should stay under 80% of maximum
• Memory usage: MySQL should use allocated buffer pool efficiently

Expected Performance Improvements

After completing all optimizations:

• Autocomplete searches: 50-80% faster response time
• Stock filtering: 60-90% performance improvement
• Page loading: 25-50% faster overall
• User experience: Significantly more responsive interface

Support and Documentation

For additional technical details, refer to:

• Developer documentation in developer_docs/database/mysql-performance-configuration.md
• MySQL official documentation for your version
• Contact development team for complex issues

Safety Reminders

• Always backup your database before making configuration changes
• Test configuration changes during low-usage periods
• Monitor system performance after changes
• Keep backup copies of working configurations
• Document any custom modifications for future reference

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