Database load time increasing with inactivity!

[Square1]

Hi all:

I am running a version of my website using PHP/MySQL with the following:

IIS7 on a VPS
Shared MySQL server
Tables use InnoDB
PHP installed manually, not with MS Web Installer
Tables are all indexed based on WHERE/ORDER BY/GROUP BY/JOIN

A strange thing is happening. I am the only one using this version of my site (my live site is in ASP Classic). The longer I go without opening any of the PHP pages, the longer it takes to load the site. The extreme case is overnight, the first time I load a PHP page it just spins and never opens. I have to close the browser and try again and then I get in.

I have taken a specific page to use as a test page. It had a header, footer and a SQL query. I removed all except the SQL query and have it running with a timer and am starting to track load times over time.

I have called my hosting co and they are stumped.

I also have a forum (php) running off the same database. It is located in a subdirectory of the main website. It appears to be running fine.

All the while, the ASP classic very of the site, live under load, using a shared MSSQL DB is spinning like a top. Using the same queries as the PHP site.

Any help appreciated. I have spent a year recoding the site to PHP and was planning to switch over tomorrow but now that is on hold.

[Square1]

Here is the EXPLAIN for this particular query:

Array
(
[id] => 1
[select_type] => SIMPLE
[table] => SHL_Sports
[type] => ref
[possible_keys] => SportCode
[key] => SportCode
[key_len] => 52
[ref] => const
[rows] => 1
[Extra] => Using where; Using index; Using temporary; Using filesort
)

[dagon]

I would start with
CHECK TABLE SHL_Sports

[Square1]

Thanks Dagon. i will start there.