Sam's questions

I want to upgrade my server because of the high mysql loads causing slowness + whenever there were backup processes running on the DB, the DB would be inaccessible, so wanted some solution. My current server is an Opteron 2212 with 8GB RAM.

My web host suggested a lower configuration server (Phenom Hexacore with 8GB RAM) but to take 3 servers + load balancer...they said that it would help in situations where there is a high amount of traffic and also help when one of the server fails, that there will be a backup server.

On inquiring further they said that no mysql replication will be set up because they charge extra for that but will still be able to configure a set up which will meet my needs.

I am not really sure, will my purpose of an upgrade even be achieved if I have 3 such servers and no mysql replication...they're not very clear on how they'd set it up. Any ideas on whether this is a good solution and what I could propose to them?

My websites have been growing in terms of traffic and the load on the mysql has been increasing. I wanted a solution that would help deal with the increased load on mysql (all queries already optimized) because of the increase in traffic + backup servers that could serve as a failover if my main server fails.

I have read about setting up multiple web and database servers, but had a few questions:

1) How do you set up multiple web servers while maintaining the same content (would I have to upload the files to all the servers everytime they were updated or is there another way?)

2) Similarly, if I had to scale out the DB into more than one server, is there any other way apart from replication or is mysql replication the best way to go about it.

3) I have read that separating the database from the web server is a good idea, why is that? If I had 2 servers, can't I have both the DB and the files on both servers.

4) Is something known as a load balancer needed and would it help balance mysql queries as well if replication were set up?

Just very confused, would like some help.