From: Rik Wasmus
Date: August 2 2012 5:07pm
Subject: Re: manage mysql-bin.xxxxxx files on mac
List-Archive: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql/227941
Message-Id: <201208021907.27209.rik@grib.nl>
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Hm, due to some popups that was a premature sending... Mea culpa

> > I don't really know how to use those files and so like to know how to
> > stop populating them. or at least control the number and size of them.
> 
> Used for: disaster recovery / replay modifications on backup, or
> replication afaik.
> 
> Days kept: expire_log_days:
> 
> http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/server-system-
> variables.html#sysvar_expire_logs_days
> 
> Max size: max_binlog_size:

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/replication-options-binary-
log.html#sysvar_max_binlog_size

(this is per file)

> > I'm running os x 10.6.8, mysql Server version: 5.1.61-log MySQL
> > Community Server (GPL)
> > 
> > I tried comment out the line "log-bin=mysql-bin" and those
> > mysql-bin.xxxxxx files in the data directory. It causes mysql server
> > starting failure.

Don't just delete the bin-files. First start with log-bin=off (or no log-bin 
declaration). If that fails to start your server, show us the actual error.
-- 
Rik Wasmus