Database structure with many users recording many posts

[Hans Karlsson]

Newbie needs advice please....

I will create a database with about 10.000 questions that will be selected randomly and showed for the user one by one. The questions are of type Yes,No or Don't know. Users (maybe 10 or 100.000) will answer the questions and the answer is recorded in the database and connected to the user.

Question 1:
Is normalization the way to go? (or is it any other way to do it?)

Question 2:
What table structure is recommended? Table Answers(UserId, QuestionId, Answer) were UserId and QuestionId have their own tables.

Question 3:
What is the best way to call for the question? (It should chose a question randomly and check if it has been answered before by the user and show it).

Question 4:
What would a "normal" response time be for a user if there are 1.000.000.000 rows in the database and 1.000 people are doing it at the same time?

Question 5:
The recorded answers for one user would be stored for a year and then deleted. What is the best way to erase rows for a user to be able to use the rows (space) again?

Thanks,
/Hans



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/08/2009 03:32PM by Hans Karlsson.