Locating Hot I/O Objects in MySQL 8

Introduction

MySQL is a robust and widely used relational database management system. However, like any complex software, it can encounter performance issues. Among the many factors affecting MySQL performance, I/O (Input/Output) operations play a critical role. When I/O becomes slow, it can create bottlenecks, causing queries to lag and degrading overall database performance.

To address these challenges, this guide focuses on troubleshooting MySQL 8 performance by identifying and optimizing Hot I/O Objects. These objects, which include tables and indexes with high I/O activity, often impact efficiency the most. By pinpointing them and understanding the reasons behind their high activity, you can take proactive steps to enhance database performance.

Identifying Hot I/O Objects

Fortunately, MySQL 8 provides a robust toolset for performance analysis, including the Performance Schema. To locate Hot I/O Objects, we can query the Performance Schema and the SYS Schema to gather information about I/O activity on tables and indexes.

SELECT
    `io`.`OBJECT_NAME` AS `Table Name`,
    `io`.`INDEX_NAME` AS `Index Name`,
    `io`.`COUNT_READ` AS `Read Count`,
    (`io`.`SUM_TIMER_READ` / 1e9) AS `Read Time (seconds)`,
    `io`.`COUNT_WRITE` AS `Write Count`,
    (`io`.`SUM_TIMER_WRITE` / 1e9) AS `Write Time (seconds)`
FROM
    (SELECT
         `OBJECT_NAME` AS `OBJECT_NAME`,
         `INDEX_NAME`,
         `SUM_TIMER_READ`,
         `COUNT_READ`,
         `SUM_TIMER_WRITE`,
         `COUNT_WRITE`
     FROM
         `performance_schema`.`table_io_waits_summary_by_index_usage`
     UNION
     SELECT
         `OBJECT_NAME` AS `OBJECT_NAME`,
         NULL AS `INDEX_NAME`,
         `SUM_TIMER_READ`,
         `COUNT_READ`,
         `SUM_TIMER_WRITE`,
         `COUNT_WRITE`
     FROM
         `performance_schema`.`table_io_waits_summary_by_table`
    ) AS `io`
WHERE
            `io`.`COUNT_READ` + `io`.`COUNT_WRITE` > 0
ORDER BY
    (`io`.`SUM_TIMER_READ` + `io`.`SUM_TIMER_WRITE`) DESC
LIMIT 10;

Interpreting the Results

The script generates a list of tables and indexes based on their I/O activity, including read and write counts and times. Then, it identifies objects with the highest combined I/O time as Hot I/O Objects.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting MySQL 8 performance is essential for maintaining the responsiveness and reliability of your database. Identifying Hot I/O Objects through the Performance Schema is a crucial step in this process. By understanding which tables and indexes are the most I/O-intensive, you can focus your optimization efforts where they matter most.

Furthermore, whether it’s optimizing queries, restructuring data, or introducing caching mechanisms, addressing Hot I/O Objects can significantly enhance MySQL performance. Regular monitoring and fine-tuning will help keep your database running smoothly even as workloads evolve.

In conclusion, leveraging the Performance Schema to find Hot I/O Objects is an effective strategy for troubleshooting MySQL 8 performance and ensuring your database meets the demands of your applications.

About Shiv Iyer 499 Articles
Open Source Database Systems Engineer with a deep understanding of Optimizer Internals, Performance Engineering, Scalability and Data SRE. Shiv currently is the Founder, Investor, Board Member and CEO of multiple Database Systems Infrastructure Operations companies in the Transaction Processing Computing and ColumnStores ecosystem. He is also a frequent speaker in open source software conferences globally.