shrink the databasesize

[Eagle Creek]

Hello,

Database data disk usage: 496.84 MB
Database index disk usage: 269.25 MB

How many MB is my database using at the moment?
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I want to shrink the size of my database, to use the extra MB elsewhere. One way I could do this would be to remove some of posts on our forum(??)
We have around 9,000 members, I am not sure if this is normal for this kind of forum.
My question is, how can make my database as smallest as possible?

[Zachery]

Well what does the Data Usage read? This shows you how big the database actually is.

I would say that is normal sized database for the ammount of posts and members you have esp. if you are allowing attachments.

[Eagle Creek]

But what's the difference between data usage and index usages?

Some stats:
Threads: 8,843, Posts: 379,315, Members: 9,137

MySQL Packet Size 2.00 MB
Attachment Usage 7.71 MB
New Posts Today 1,497
Avatar Usage 7.29 MB
Profile Picture Usage 0.09 MB
Data Usage 497.20 MB
Index Usage 269.46 MB

Is this really normal? It's a huge amount of date, true.
As you can see I don't know very much 'bout databases. I guessed it would be like 100-200 MB.

So; do you have any tips to decrease it?

When I would remove ALL the posts older then 30 days and the attachements?

[Zachery]

Data useage is the entire database

Index Usage is the search index's size it is also figured into Data usage

a 500MB database is not that large for a board your size.

[Eagle Creek]

Index Usage is the search index's size
:w00t:

So when I use the option "empty the search index-es" it will remove these MB's?
But when it's so many MB's I guess the search index is quite important?

500 MB isn't much you say.. Ok, so in stead of asking if I can shrink it I should be happy it isn't bigger .

nice to know, thx.

[Zachery]

Well if you empty them no one can search :/

[Eagle Creek]

Uuhm, I mean. There is an Maintenance option for?

Why should u use it then?

[Zachery]

If you need to rebuild it from scratch, its best to clear it.

[Eagle Creek]

Thank you