Ping a Database

[deansatch]

What is the best way to check to see when a mysql db has been updated in a sort of realtime situation? e.g. I can have a page and using some ajax I can have it select and display stuff from the db every 2 seconds so I will see entries appearing on the page in realtime. I imagine this would put some strain on the server - I only need it to retrieve info if there is something new to show - what is the least stressful way of doing this?

[Mchl]

(For example) When inserting new data, touch (i.e. update modification time) a file in a filesystem. Then just monitor this file's modification date.

[deansatch]

Thanks for that - would checking the modification date of a file every 2-3 seconds have a serious effect on the server performance?

[Mchl]

Less than querying database anyway.

[wee493]

Thanks for that - would checking the modification date of a file every 2-3 seconds have a serious effect on the server performance?

It shouldn't be too bad, but if you start getting many users on your site at the same time it's going to kill it self.