For the last few weeks I have been developing a site based around phpbb3, which I have extensively modified. Until yesterday, I have had no problems, and have overall been very happy with your free hosting.
Then, like many people before me, I received an email warning me about a Slow MySQL Query. Shortly before receiving this, I had installed a chat modification, based on AJAX, and assumed this must be causing the problem.
I disabled the chat, while I looked into it. On re-reading your TOS today, I notice that chat software is not allowed, so I may have been in breach of the rules in that respect. For this I apologise - it was an oversight on my part.
However, I am still none the wiser as to what caused the initial problem. I replied to the email, but no answer has arrived. I have searched this forum, and found numerous people with the same problem, but no answers seem to be forthcoming.
Without getting too technical, the AJAX script in question queries the db every few seconds to see who is online, and therefore available to chat. This is a core feature, and while it can be made less regular (once a minute would do, for example), it cannot be disabled without disabling the entire chat system. It uses the query SELECT * FROM etc.
The database is currently quite small. The only forum content is a few test entries I have made, just to check that things are working as expected. There is only a handful of users, all registered by me, to test out different permissions. The only visitors to the site so far, are me and the Google Adsense bot.
My original intention was to use your free hosting to develop this site, and then upgrade to your paid service, once the site was ready to “go live”.
Before I do this however, I need definitive answers to the following questions:
1. Is the problem caused by the **SELECT *** query itself, or because it is being made so frequently?
2. Will this problem go away if I upgrade to paid hosting?
Please don’t patronize me by telling me to use more lightweight software than phpbb3. Like others before me, I have not spent many hours developing this, simply to throw it in the bin and start again. Moving to a different host would be hugely preferable.
This is not a step I want to make however. I am happy here, and find your services helpful, and usable in most other respects.
Dare I say, in spite of the fact that your services are free, the lack of answers on how to resolve this issue is bordering on being downright unprofessional. People here may not be parting with their hard earned cash, but we are all devoting our time to developing something or other. Surely the least you can do is explain how we can resolve this issue, and get on with what we are trying to do.
Thanks, in advance, for the definitive answers to these questions, on behalf of myself, and everyone else who has received this baffling email.