View source for The Root Causes of Database Table Corruption

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|title=The Root Causes of Database Table Corruption
|type=FAQ
|htl=Y
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{{Template:Basic Status
|status=Published
|version=1.0
|authors=HTL QA
|applicableto=Core Services Version 3.x and above
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==Virus Scanners - 3rd Party Backup software - Shadow copy service - causes of table corruption==


How Virus Scanners, Backup software and the Shadow copy service cause table corruption.


The SwSQL database is based on MySQL and uses the MyISAM engine. MySQL uses three files (*.frm,*.MYI and *.MYD) to represent each table and the engine implements table level locking. This means
that when a table is updated no one else can access the table as all of the table files are locked to avoid corruption of the data.

Table corruption occurs when another application other than the SwSQLServer has already locked either the Data file or the Index file when SwSQL locks the table for update. 

The types of application that will lock the database files are typically either Anti Virus, Backup or the Windows Shadow Copy Service.  Therefore to avoid table corruption we would advise that 
the Hornbill folder be added to the exception list of any Anti Virus or Backup software that runs automatically on the server.

We would also advise that the Drive that the Supportworks Server is installed on be added to the exception list of the Windows Shadow Copy Service.