hosting forum database on a different server
 

Is anyone hosting their forum database on a different server than where the forum is located? I ask because I am wondering anyone is what are the risks/rewards you have had?

I am able wondering if anyone does load balancing at all with their forums.

Yes, and yes.

I have three web servers, and one data server.

(This site, of course, also does it)

Thanks Paul

Unless you get a significant amount of traffic or your hosting package is pretty much forcing you to host your database at a different location, I don't see why you should do such thing.

If you were to put your database somewhere else, make sure the database server has a low latency to your HTTP(S) server. You want to avoid adding extra latency to your requests.

I would go with suggestions from Dave!

If you don't want your forum database down then you need to optimize your web hosting to have better performance and when it can accommodate more online visitors online at same time.

Dont split them unless you can connect them via a private backend connection, the last thing you want is SQL traffic over the internet.