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(mysql.info)InnoDB overview

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InnoDB tables overview
----------------------

InnoDB tables are included in the MySQL source distribution starting
from 3.23.34a and are activated in the *MySQL -max* binary.

If you have downloaded a binary version of MySQL that includes support
for InnoDB (mysqld-max), simply follow the instructions for installing
a binary version of MySQL. Note: Installing binary.  Note:
`mysqld-max'.

To compile MySQL with InnoDB support, download MySQL-3.23.37 or newer
and configure MySQL with the `--with-innodb' option.  Note: Installing
source.

     cd /path/to/source/of/mysql-3.23.37
     ./configure --with-innodb

To get InnoDB to work you have to specify where the data for InnoDB
tables should be stored by specifying the `innodb_data_file_path'
option on the command line or in an MySQL option file. Note: InnoDB
start.  If you have configured MySQL for InnoDB but you have not
specified the above option, `mysqld' will print at start:

     Can't initialize InnoDB as 'innodb_data_file_path' is not set

InnoDB provides MySQL with a transaction-safe table handler with
commit, rollback, and crash recovery capabilities. InnoDB does locking
on row level, and also provides an Oracle-style consistent non-locking
read in `SELECTS', which increases transaction concurrency. There is
not need for lock escalation in InnoDB, because row level locks in
InnoDB fit in very small space.

InnoDB has been designed for maximum performance when processing large
data volumes. Its CPU efficiency is probably not matched by any other
disk-based relational database engine.

You can find the latest information about InnoDB at
`http://www.innodb.com'. The most up-to-date version of the InnoDB
manual is always placed there, and you can also order commercial
support for InnoDB.

Technically, InnoDB is a database backend placed under MySQL. InnoDB
has its own buffer pool for caching data and indexes in main memory.
InnoDB stores its tables and indexes in a tablespace, which may consist
of several files. This is different from, for example, `MyISAM' tables
where each table is stored as a separate file.

InnoDB is distributed under the GNU GPL License Version 2 (of June
1991).  In the source distribution of MySQL, InnoDB appears as a
subdirectory.