Client/Server Communication in MySQL
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This is just the first part in a series that we hope will leave you better informed on topics ranging from writing a MySQL proxy server to auditing your MySQL traffic. This article is excerpted from chapter 4 of the book
Understanding MySQL Internals, written by Sasha Pachev (O'Reilly, 2007; ISBN: 0596009577) Copyright © 2007 O'Reilly Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission from the publisher. Available from booksellers or direct from O'Reilly Media.
In this chapter we will discuss the details of the client/server communication in MySQL. The goal is to give you the ability to look at a binary dump of the client/server communication and be able to understand what happened. This chapter can also be helpful if you are trying to write a MySQL proxy server, a security application to audit MySQL traffic on your network, or some other program that for some reason needs to understand the low-level details of the MySQL client/server protocol.
Protocol Overview
The server listens for connections on a TCP/IP port or a local socket. When a client connects, a handshake and authentication are performed. If successful, the session begins. The client sends a command, and the server responds with a data set or a message appropriate for the type of command that was sent. When the client is finished, it sends a special command telling the server it is done, and the session is terminated.
The basic unit of communication is the application-layer packet. Commands consist of one packet. Responses may include several.
Packet Format There are two types of packets: compressed and noncompressed. The decision on which one will be used for the session is made during the handshake stage, and depends on the capabilities and settings of both the client and the server.
Additionally, regardless of the compression option, the packets are divided into two categories: commands sent by the client, and responses returned by the server.
Server response packets are divided into four categories: data packets, end-of-data-stream packets, success report (OK) packets, and error message packets.
All packets share the common 4-byte header, documented in Table4-1 .
Next: The Common 4-Byte Header >>
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 This article is excerpted from chapter 4 of the book Understanding MySQL Internals, written by Sasha Pachev (O'Reilly, 2007; ISBN: 0596009577). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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