I have built an application as part of my UG thesis that uses mysql database (community edition). Now, my professor wants me, possibly out of his ignorance, to provide fault-tolerance to the data in the database (by parity!!)! I argued that we don't need that. Anyway I searched, and found here that mysql has built-in replication engine (a mechanism to provide fault-tolerance right?). But what I learned from there is that there is a master server and some slave servers to provide the fault tolerance using replication. Now my questions are:
What if I have only one database server? Does mysql have any fault-tolerance for single standalone database servers (i.e. no master-slave formation, no cluster, etc.)? If yes, some basic idea about it please, so that I can soothe my professor that we don't need to do anything ourselves.
Do I need to try to provide any kind of fault-tolerance whatsoever for the data stored in mysql database?
What kind of differences are there (in terms of fault-tolerance only) between community edition and enterprise edition of mysql servers?
Somehow I get the feeling that we don't need to do anything for providing fault-tolerance to mysql db, and it is fine by itself. But I need some solid info on the matter. Thanks.