Frequently Asked Questions About Training

How much overlap is there between the four courses?

There is very little overlap. 

If you are planning to attend a limited set of days, click on a course name below to understand what topics are covered on each day:

· Day 1: MySQL Developers Training on Monday

· Day 2: MySQL DBA Training on Tuesday

· Day 3: InnoDB / XtraDB Training on Wednesday

· Day 4: MySQL Operations Training on Thursday

I attended your training in 2009-2010, what's changed?

If you attended the Developing High Performance, Scalable Applications course in the past, the MySQL Developers Training course now offered on Day 1 is very similar- with a few exceptions. We have improved and expanded the architecture and query tuning sections and added a new section about instrumentation.

However, if you attended the Performance Optimization with InnoDB and XtraDB course offered on Day 2 in the past, quite a bit has changed. We have split some of the content that was covered in this one class over the three courses now offered on days 2, 3, and 4.

The new Day 2: MySQL DBA Training course has the same SHOW GLOBAL STATUS review that the previous course had, but now also includes new sections on Understanding System Components, Diagnostic Tools, Backup & Recover, Replication, Monitoring, Security, and Case Studies.

The new Day 3:  InnoDB / XtraDB Training course spends a full day on some of the internal InnoDB and XtraDB topics that were not before covered as extensively and includes hands-on exercises.

The new Day 4: MySQL Operations Training course conceptually has a lot in common with the "Operational Issues" sections covered in the old training but now offers a full day, hands-on approach.

Are the hours really 9AM to 5PM?

Yes, so please do not be late.

At 4:30PM, the instructor will open the class for general Q&A. While you are not required to stay for the Q&A portion of the day, this is a good opportunity to address additional questions, present questions about your unique situation and/or ask the instructor to elaborate on any tabled topic.

What time is lunch?

For most locations, lunch will start between 12:00PM and 12:30PM and be one hour in duration. The instructor will confirm the schedule at the start of the class.

Do you cater lunch?

No (except for classes in London), so plan accordingly.  However, at most locations coffee/tea and soft-drinks are available all day and snacks will be provided in the morning and afternoon.

Can I use my own laptop?

In the Day 1: MySQL Developers Training class, you will need to use the PC provided. It has been pre-loaded will all necessary sample data, and our instructors also rely on similar machine performance during class exercises.

For all other classes, you can use your own laptop. Time will not be provided for installing MySQL, so please make sure if you want to use your laptop, you are prepared in advance.

There is a WiFi network available in all USA locations and the instructor will advise you on how to get connected in the morning. For international locations, WiFi is not guaranteed. 

What happens if I am sick on the day?

Please contact us as soon as possible.

We would prefer you do not attend class if you are ill to protect the health of the other students. We've previously refunded students for serious illness or may be able to swap your attendance for another class at a later date. 

Can classes be canceled?

Are attendee substitutions possible?

Yes. If you have a substitution, please contact us as soon as possible so we can issue a new ticket. For substitutions at the last minute, make sure that the substitute student prints out and brings the original ticket. We will not refuse attendance provided every student has their own ticket.

The exception: classes in New York City require confirmed attendee names 48 hours in advance for security purposes.

I want to send multiple people. Are group discounts available?

We can normally offer a discount to companies sending three or more training attendees so contact us as soon as possible to discuss this option.

If you plan to send six or more attendees, it may be more cost effective to have your own private class (see Can you teach from our office?).

We may not offer discounts for last-minute bookings or bookings where it appears the class will sell out so it is best to get in touch with us as early as possible.

Can you teach from our office?

Yes. In addition to teaching public classes, we are also available to teach onsite at your location. Contact us for more information.

How can I get you to come to my city?

We schedule course locations based on user demand. If you would like us to visit your city, please contact us.

How many people will be in each training class?

We strive to maintain a class size of under 12 students. However, due to travel costs for some locations as well as scheduling complexities, the class size will occasionally be up to 15 students.

We will not exceed 15 students unless there is a second instructor available to assist students with the in-class exercises.

Will the instructor provide their slide deck?

Yes. At the end of the day the instructor will provide a URL from which you can download slides. While you are free to share these slides with your co-workers, we ask that you do not share these slides in a public forum.

Do you offer a student discount?

Contact us to determine if a student discount may be possible with early registration.  We require proof of current attendance and a photocopy of your student ID.

Who will my instructor be?

Percona wants to ensure that our instructors' knowledge goes beyond that of just a trainer following a memorized script. While not teaching, our instructors work as consultants solving real customer problems. This ensures that Percona Training is led by a MySQL expert--someone with years of actual working MySQL experience. 

I have a complaint about the course, what can I do?

At the end of each course, students are given an opportunity to fill out a feedback form. We read every comment left by students and treat this feedback seriously. If you feel the need to escalate a complaint, please contact Sally Martinez directly on +1 888-401-3401ex 581 (PST).

Do you provide a certificate at the end of the training?

Yes, we can. Please contact us to arrange your certificate delivery.

What steps can I take to prepare myself for class?

If you have been using MySQL for a couple of years, you've already taken most of the steps necessary for Days 1 and 2. Days 3 and 4 have much more stringent requirements so we do not recommend you take them without first completing Days 1 and 2.

From our experience, we find that students with more of a developer background may struggle with class discussion involving hardware and operating systems (RAID10, reviewing iostat, understanding the difference between writing and 'flushing'). You may benefit by familiarizing yourself with a Linux (Centos) desktop. If you've only used MySQL on another platform, it may help you to understand the basics, such as starting and stopping via /etc/init.d/mysqld start|stop.

After class, how do I get a followup question to my instructor?

If the question is related to something that came up in a course, most instructors are happy to help you out with a quick reply. Please note, however, that the instructor can often take up to a few weeks to reply (as they often have to do this on their own time or in between travel and other commitments).

If you require a more detailed or timely answer, we suggest that you engage Percona on a consulting basis or visit our forums.

I will need to stay in a hotel - do you have any recommendations?

In the United States, our venue partner (Microtek) maintains a list of recommended hotels with negotiated rates. To access these, start by searching for the venue on the Microtek Facility Search.