[Daniel]

Is it worth running a free mysql hosting service nowadays. I know there were some sites offering this who were quite popular a few years ago. I am thinking of starting something like this, but i am not 100% sure.
I would like to make an idea about the advantages and disadvantages of running such a service.

[NickJ]

I say go for it. If you can beat out some of the other hosts that do this, then it's an accomplishment. I get a lot of requests requesting free MySQL hosting.

Edit: If you set this up, I will refer all my MySQL hosting to you, since I hate just hosting MySQL.

[Jan]

MySQL seems to be the standard requirement of 95% of free hosting requests. So I say go for it

[maxhest]

Yup, I say so to. Go for it!

[LP-Trel]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Is it worth running a free mysql hosting service nowadays. I know there were some sites offering this who were quite popular a few years ago. I am thinking of starting something like this, but i am not 100% sure.
I would like to make an idea about the advantages and disadvantages of running such a service.

Since no one else seems to have elaborated on the topic, I'll take the chance.

MySQL hosting will be abused like there is no tomorrow unless you put creative limits on it and keep it for use primiarly by developers.

Here are some examples of it:

1) Joe Somebody wants to run a forum on FreeHostA. Since FreeHostA wants to save their server resources they don't provide MySQL. Joe Somebody then comes to your service and uploads an obscenely large database backup and runs his massive forum off of your server's back.

2) Joe Phisher is sending out emails collecting Paypal information. He puts the database access to your service and then sets up dozens of website fronts to collect the information and send it to your database server.

What I would suggest is put a limit on how many queries users can run and how many tables/rows they can put in the database. Look at http://www.freesql.org/ for more information about a good SQL hosting service.

[Plead]

Yes, have MySQL but have all the safety measures and precautions in and you won't go wrong (most of the time as long as you keep everything up to date).

Good luck with your hosting!

[Pricyber]

I provide MySQL databases but in very limited quanitites. The most I have a particular client using is 3 and that's because I have been hosting them for almost 2 years and they have not abused the resources thus far. I generally only give out one database, which is generally used for forums.

[freerackspace.org]

I am starting my own free web host as we speak, which is mainly why I signed up here, to learn more and get involved with the free hosting community iNet has whipped up.

I recommend you allow MySQL but put limits on it, so you can get the best of both worlds: More signups and less abuse.

[monoxide]

Yeah sure go ahead. But remember mysql uses a lot of server resources. But i sopose if you don't give them a big data traffic limit then they won't have a big load.

i hope it all works out for you.

[Alfarin]

I think it doesn't really matter how many database you give them; because in theory, one database can hold as many tables as the system will allow, and as long as the user organize it well enough, he/she can make some serious usage out of that database...

As mentioned before, MySQL only hosting is good idea, but you'll have to be wary of the scamming type and the resource monster type. But besides those, you should be just fine