Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> wrote:
> Axel Schwenke wrote:
>>
>> It is one of the features of MyISAM that data is stored platform
>> independent. Also MyISAM is backwards compatible. Newer Server can
>> always read the older versions. There may be issues with indexes,
>> but reading, especially exporting data should always work.

> It's a good concept. But it doesn't always work in practice.
> Export/Import always works. I've often had problems with copying the
> files, especially between OS's and versions.

Since the platform independence is an important feature of MyISAM, I
would like to know the details.

> Now I understand when you go down in version it might not work. But
> going to later versions doesn't always work, either.

There may be problems if you try to open files from a *very* old MySQL
version on a recent server. However, for upgrading MySQL you usually
don't need to unload/load your data but just upgrade the executables
and run mysql_upgrade (that uses myisamchk behind the scenes).

> Backup/restore always works (except for things like changes in the
> password algorithm).

ACK on that. SQL dumps are better in most cases.


XL
--
Axel Schwenke, Support Engineer, MySQL AB

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