Logging IP's best method

[acctman]

I have two options, either

 

1. create a field (user_lastip) and just do a sql UPDATE everytime the user logs in.

or

2. separate table (site_logs) with user_id, user_name, user_lastip and timestamp. sql would have to do a lookup to see if they user_id exist in the "site_logs" table if not then INSERT, if it does then UPDATE.

 

Which method is better overall for performance on a large site?

[rawb]

If the relationship is 1:1 then I don't see any downside to just including a 'user_lastip' field in the users table.  There doesn't seem like any point in making a separate table when each user only needs 1 entry anyways - only do this if you want to record each ip from which a user connects because the relationship is then 1:many.

[scotchegg78]

Yeah why have a 2nd table for this when its still only storiing one instance per user?

If you want a history of all logins then user a 2nd table, also you dont need to store the user name again, just the id which would link you ot the user table for their details.