I would use the log file for this, but if you must use a database, I highly recommend Firebird. I just tested the speed, it inserts about 10k records per second on quite average hardware (3 years old desktop computer). The table has one compound index, so I guess it would work even faster without it:
milanb@kiklop:~$ fbexport -i -d test -f test.fbx -v table1 -p **
Connecting to: 'LOCALHOST'...Connected.
Creating and starting transaction...Done.
Create statement...Done.
Doing verbatim import of table: TABLE1
Importing data...
SQL: INSERT INTO TABLE1 (AKCIJA,DATUM,KORISNIK,PK,TABELA) VALUES (?,?,?,?,?)
Prepare statement...Done.
Checkpoint at: 1000 lines.
Checkpoint at: 2000 lines.
Checkpoint at: 3000 lines.
...etc.
Checkpoint at: 20000 lines.
Checkpoint at: 21000 lines.
Checkpoint at: 22000 lines.
Start : Thu Aug 19 10:43:12 2010
End : Thu Aug 19 10:43:14 2010
Elapsed : 2 seconds.
22264 rows imported from test.fbx.
Firebird is open source, and completely free even for commercial projects.
