LINUX MYSQL GOTCHAS

1. bind-address : If your server's ip doesn't change. Might want to make it your server's ip address. Just makes it easier to troubleshoot connectivity issues.

2. Have to have this under mysqld [this disables mysql's case sensitivity. This is only a feature on *unix operating systems. Telling you it can be quite annoying...]
lower_case_table_names = 1

Other key parameters under [mysqld] which can be quite handy.

key_buffer = 128M
max_allowed_packet = 5GB
transaction_isolation = READ-UNCOMMITTED [Especially when working with some persistence middleware provider like ejb2.1 app servers.]

3. /etc/mysql/my.cnf - Location of configuration file

4. /etc/init.d/mysql start - Starts mysql
5. /etc/init.d/mysql stop - Stops mysql
6. /etc/init.d/mysql restart - Restarts mysql.