how many mysql processes on linux

[grimwyre]

How many mysql processes are started by default when mysql is started on linux?

 

[ericbrunson]

Assuming you mean mysqld, on my system: 1.

 

[grimwyre]

I am starting it with the mysql.server script and it is starting a mysqld process which spawns another mysqld process immediately which also spawns a mysqld process. This carries on until there are 11 processes running.

 

[ericbrunson]

Those are threads, not processes. They are listed in the process tables like that because of the funky way linux handles and reports threads. Note that the memory reported used is the total amount used by all threads, and not each individual thread.

Reducing the numver of threads can significantly impact performance, but if you are really bothered by it you can reduce the number by editing your my.cnf

[mysqld]
set-variable = max_connections = 10