When you modify you indexes in MySQL (and especially in MyISAM), make sure that the free space on the disk that holds your tmpdir folder is larger than your largest index file.
Why We Need to Such a Large Free Space?
MySQL is using the tmpdir to copy the original index file to and "repair it" by sorting the data.
What Happens if We Don't Have Enough Space?
In this case MySQL will make it best to modify the index file based on the given space. The result is a very slow process (or never ending one) and poor results. If you will check the show processlist, you will find out the state "Repair by keycache" instead of "Repair by sorting"
What to Do?
Make sure you have enough free space (> largest index file) and that the tmpdir option file is located on this disk.
Bottom Line
Make sure you have enough free space to get best performance
Keep Performing,
Moshe Kaplan
