31: MySQL VDB Management

General

Virtual Database (VDB) is a fully functional copy of source database, that requires almost no storage and takes very short time to be created.

The management of VBD’s is done in the Virtual Databases work area. In addition, the same work area allows to perform tasks for a Golden Images(GI) and manage duplicates. It also allows to manage snapshots for all the objects.

Golden Image (GI)

Remove a GI

1. Select a GI in the list.

2. Click Remove Golden Image.

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3. Click Remove to confirm the deletion or Cancel to exit with deleting the volume.

Edit a GI

1. Select the GI in the list.

2. Click Modify volume.

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3. Modify details:

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4. To save your changes, click Modify. Otherwise, click Cancel.

See information about a GI

1. Select the GI in the list.

2. Click Volume info.

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3. The Info window appears and shows the next details:

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Volume info

Name - name of the GI

Description - description of the GI

Created at - created timestamp

Updated at - last update timestamp - last refresh of GI

Overall execution time - how much time it took to create the GI.

Storage path - the directory on the source server where the GI database should be running

DB Size - total size of the source database

4. To see the last logs, click “Last Logs”. A last log of this GI is displayed

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   Click Auto-refresh to do an auto refresh.
   Click Download to download the last log file

5. To see the log history, click Log History

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   Choose a log based on timestamp and operation
   The log is displayed
   Click Auto-refresh to do an auto refresh.
   Click Download to download the log file

Virtual Database (VDB)

Create VDB

1. On the navigation bar, click Virtual Databases.
   The VDB Management window appears.

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2. Select a Test Data Environment using the list in the header

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3. Select a snapshot from the snapshots list on the right side of the screen.

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4. Click Create VDB.

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5. Enter the VDB parameters:

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   Name - name of the VDB
   Description - an optional description
   

   Start immediately - if selected then the VDB is started immediately after the creation, if not selected then the VDB will created and left in stopped state
   Target DB Home - select the database home that will run the VDB. Pay attention that it also selects the target host, since each DB Home is configured under a specific target host
   Port - port of the VDB on the target host. Make sure that this port is not in use by any other process.

7. Enter the Snapshot policy parameters

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   • Activate snapshots - select if you want automatic snapshots of the GI to be created

   • Repeat every - choose snapshot frequency

   • Start from - when to start creating snapshots

   • Snapshot retention period - how many days to keep the snapshots, they will be deleted automatically afterwards (if no dependent objects exist)

8. Enter the Advanced Parameters, if necessary:
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   1. MySQL Parameters - the MySQL parameters that are used to start the VDB. If not specified, then the values from GI will be used. In order to add additional parameters use Settings > System > VDBS

   2. VDB startup pre/post scripts - full path to script files on the target server.

      1. Pre OS script - it is a shell script that is executed on the target server before the VDB is started

      2. Post SQL script - it is an SQL script that is executed in the database (VDB) after the VDB is started

      3. Post OS script - it is a shell script that is executed on the target server after the VDB is started

9. Click Create VDB. Otherwise, click Cancel to exit without creating a VDB.

10. The VDB Management window displays the VDB that has been created.

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VDB statuses

Icon	Meaning

Icon	Meaning
Open	VDB is in a middle of an operation (starting, stopping, creating snapshot, etc.)
Open	VDB is stopped
Open	VDB is started. Only in this state users can connect to the VDB
Open	VDB has failed to start. Check the log of the VDB to understand the reason why.

Start VDB

VDB can be started automatically when it is created or can be started separately.

1. Select the VDB.

2. Click Start VDB.

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3. Enter the VDB parameters:

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   Name - name of the VDB
   Description - an optional description
   Target DB Home - select the database home that will run the VDB. Pay attention that it also selects the target host, since each DB Home is configured under a specific target host
   Port - port of the VDB on the target host. Make sure that this port is not in use by any other process.

3. Enter the Advanced Parameters, if necessary - same as in Create VDB

4. Click Start VDB

Stop VDB

1. Select the VDB.

2. Click Stop VDB.

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Force stop VDB

In some case a VDB can be stuck while stopping. It can be forcibly stopped. After a force stop the VDB state is reset, so it can be started again. The force stop option is always available, even for stopped VDB.

1. Select the VDB.

2. Click Force stop VDB.

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Remove VDB

You can remove VDB only when it is stopped.

1. Select the VDB.

2. Click Remove VDB.

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3. Click Remove to confirm the deletion
   Pay attention that removing a VDB is an irreversible action!

List snapshots

The list of snapshots is displayed on the right pane. The list is updated every time you select GI, VDB or duplicate on the left pane. The snapshots are grouped by day. You can search for a specific snapshot using time filter or free text.

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Create a snapshot

1. Select GI or VDB

2. Click Add snapshot

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3. Enter Name and Description

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4. Click Add

Pay attention that every refresh of GI creates a snapshot of GI automatically

Remove a snapshot

1. Select VDB

2. Select the snapshot.

3. Click Remove snapshot.

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3. Click Remove to confirm the deletion

Recover to the first snapshot

1. Select VDB

2. Click “Recovery to first snapshot”.

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3. Click Recovery to confirm the recovery or Cancel to exit with recovering the snapshot.

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Recover to any snapshot

1. Select VDB

2. Select any snapshot on the right pane.

3. Click Recovery to this snapshot.

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3. Click Recover to confirm the recovery or Cancel to exit with recovering the snapshot.

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Create a duplicate

1. Select VDB

2. Select the snapshot.

3. Click Create duplicate.

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3. Enter details of the new duplicate.

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Name - name of the duplicate

Description - an optional description

Storage pool - in which storage pool the duplicate will be created. By default it is set for secondary_pool

4. Click Create.