SELECT not using index (slow web response)

Hello, I'm trying this message here, since I've received no answer to it in the MySQL mailing list. I would sure like to know what is going on here. The records aren't great in number, but they are large in size... > Here's a part of the table definition: > >CREATE TABLE plants ( > id INT NOT NULL auto_increment, > class VARCHAR(5) NOT NULL, >... > PRIMARY (id), > KEY class (class) > ); > >SELECT * FROM plants WHERE class='a'; > > According to EXPLAIN, only my home system is using the index: > >MySQL Version table type possible_keys key key_len ref rows Extra >------------- ----- ---- ------------- --- ------- --- ---- ----- >3.21.29a-gamma plants ref class class 5 a 19 where used >3.22.21 plants ALL class 876 where used >3.22.30-log plants ALL class 876 where used > > Are these 3.22 versions not actually using the key? The reason I ask is >that my home system executes this in under 10 seconds (PHP/MySQL) and it >takes over 45 on the other two systems, both of which have better hardware. > > My system is win95, the other two are a Raq(MIPS linux), and FreeBSD. >Looking at the Raq according to top, httpd goes to 97% CPU usage. It's not >my system, so I am trying to figure out what is taking so long so that I can >pass it on to the sysadmin. > >Any pointers where to look? Thanks, > John -- /* SteeleSoft Consulting John Steele - Systems Analyst/Programmer * We also walk dogs... PHP/MySQL/Linux/Hosting - jsteele@writeme.com * http://www.steelesoftconsulting.com */