Moodle in English: How do you use the Functional database tests

I opened >Site Administration > Development > Functional DB tests and ran the test on my database.

The result was 3 Exceptions and 6 Fails. See the list below.

The report indicates the file name and line number of the script that triggered the failiers, but it doesn't indicate the database table name, record ID, or field name. The exceptions point to "for column 'onetext' at row 1 INSERT INTO mdl_unit_table", but I can't find a table called mdl_unit_table.

I can't see how to use this report to fix the problems in my database. I would like to clean up these problems.

Could someone shed some light on how to use the Functional DB Test?

Thanks,

Clarence

EXCEPTIONS:

Exception: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_insert_record
Unexpected exception of type [dml_write_exception] with message [Error writing to database] in [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/moodle_database.php line 381]

Debug info:

Incorrect string value: '\xEC\xA0\x9C 1\xEC...' for column 'onetext' at row 1 INSERT INTO mdl_unit_table (course,oneint,onenum,onechar,onetext,onebinary) VALUES(?,?,?,?,?,?)

Exception: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_update_record
Unexpected exception of type [dml_write_exception] with message [Error writing to database] in [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/moodle_database.php line 381]

Debug info:

Incorrect string value: '\xEC\xA0\x9C 1\xEC...' for column 'onetext' at row 1 UPDATE mdl_unit_table SET course = ?,Xoneint= ?,Xonenum= ?,Xonechar= ?,Xonetext= ?,Xonebinary= ? WHERE id=?

Exception: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_set_field_select
Unexpected exception of type [dml_write_exception] with message [Error writing to database] in [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/moodle_database.php line 381]

Debug info:

Incorrect string value: '\xEC\xA0\x9C 1\xEC...' for column 'onetext' at row 1 UPDATE mdl_unit_table SET Xonetext= ? WHERE id = ?

FAILS:

Fail: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_onelevel_rollback
Equal expectation fails because [Integer: 0] differs from [String: 1] by 1 at [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php line 2454]

Fail: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_nested_transactions
Equal expectation fails because [Integer: 0] differs from [String: 2] by 2 at [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php line 2501]

Fail: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_wrong_transactions
Equal expectation fails because [Integer: 0] differs from [String: 2] by 2 at [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php line 2600]

Fail: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_concurent_transactions
Equal expectation fails because [Integer: 0] differs from [String: 1] by 1 at [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php line 2687]

Fail: lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php / 〉 dml_test / 〉 test_concurent_transactions
Equal expectation fails because [Integer: 1] differs from [String: 2] by 1 at [/home/musappc/public_html/Cm2Pm/lib/dml/simpletest/testdml.php line 2690]

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Andrew Davis - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 9:39 AM

I just ran the tests and I get the same errors so its most likely actually the tests that are broken and not your database.

I've raised http://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-23411

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Clarence Prudhoe - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 11:10 AM

Thanks Andrew.

I ported my database from Moodle 1.9.9 and I had to do a lot of cleanup to make it work. It seems to be ok now, but that Functional database test had me worried. thoughtful

Clarence

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Eloy Lafuente (stronk7) - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi,

those DB tests are about support for transactions, in order to test how coomit/rollback/isolation is working in your DB.

If you are using MySQL with the MyISAM engine (that I guess is the case) you will get those test failing, as far as that engine doesn't support transactions.

But if you are using MySQL with the InnoDB engine those tests will pass perfectly, because that engine is ACID compliant.

In any case, the two important things are:

1) Moodle 2.0 (and previous versions) will work perfectly using the MyISAM engine because we aren't using those "advanced" features in a hard way.
2) Someday in the future (2.x) we'll make the use of InnoDB mandatory in order to start using those ACID features within Moodle.

And finally, one recommendation:

1) If you've the opportunity to move from MyISAM to InnoDB, do it ASAP. That way you will be already ready for the future change commented and, at the same time, you will getting some benefits, like better locking (less concurrence problems, very important in any medium site) and, of course, your test will pass ok.

Ciao

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Joseph Rézeau - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 6:18 PM

Hi Eloy,
How can one find out whether one is using MyISAM or InnoDB? I'm doing my tests on my local WAMP install.
Joseph

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Eloy Lafuente (stronk7) - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 8:24 PM

Hi Joseph,

To see all the available engines in your DB:

 

SHOW ENGINES;

To see the engine used on each table:

 

SELECT table_name, engine

FROM information_schema.tables

WHERE table_schema = 'xxxxx'



xxxx = your database name

Note both informations are also available under phpMyAdmin (main page->engines and table listing).

Ciao

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Andrew Davis - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 8:52 PM

Surely the tests shouldnt be failing if they cover unsupported functionality? Failure indicates something is wrong, which is how this thread came about.

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Clarence Prudhoe - Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 10:40 PM

Hi,

How do you go about switching from MyISAM to InnoDB. I am currently using a shared server (will convert to a dedicated server this Fall). Do I have to have my host make the change or can I do it from phpMySQL?

Will I have to convert the current database to use the InnoDB or will it automatically work after the change.

EDIT: To answer my own question, I found this site with instructions on how to make the switch:

http://www.linux.com/archive/feed/46370

Thanks,

Clarence

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Eloy Lafuente (stronk7) - Wednesday, 21 July 2010, 9:08 AM

Hi Clarence,

two important setting that the guide is missing are, in the my.cnf file:

#skip-innodb
default-storage-engine = innodb

The first, if present, must be commented (#) or InnoDB won't work in the server. If missing, nothing to do.

The second, very important, as far as it decides the storage engine that will be used by default when creating new tables (and, in Moodle, I'd say we are really prone to create new tables here and there). So, look for it and, if present, set it to innodb. If missing, add it.

Hi Andrew,

I see your point, but I really think it's better to have those tests running and warning about people that, perhaps, their DB and its current configuration, isn't the best one. Those tests can be skipped/faked, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Ciao

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Re: How do you use the Functional database tests

by Helen Foster - Wednesday, 21 July 2010, 10:40 PM

Thanks everyone for this informative discussion.

I've added a link to it in the newly created Moodle Docs page Functional database tests, so if anyone feels like checking their understanding by editing the page and transferring information from this discussion, please feel free... wink

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