General Questions
What is Azure Database for MySQL?
Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed relational database service built on the MySQL Community Edition database engine. It allows you to focus on application development without needing to manage infrastructure.
What are the key benefits of using Azure Database for MySQL?
Key benefits include high availability, automatic backups, built-in security features, performance scalability, and compatibility with MySQL applications.
What are the available deployment options?
Azure Database for MySQL offers three deployment options:
- Single Server: A managed MySQL instance for development and production workloads.
- Flexible Server: Offers more granular control over configuration and cost optimization, with compute and storage independently scalable.
- Hyperscale (Citus): For large-scale analytical workloads and high-throughput transactional applications, leveraging distributed PostgreSQL. (Note: This FAQ specifically refers to MySQL, but it's important to be aware of related services).
Pricing and Sizing
How is pricing determined?
Pricing is based on the compute tier (General Purpose, Memory Optimized), vCores, storage size, backup storage, and network egress. Flexible Server offers more flexible pricing models.
How do I choose the right compute tier and size?
The choice depends on your workload's requirements for CPU, memory, and I/O. General Purpose is suitable for most common workloads, while Memory Optimized is for memory-intensive applications. Start with smaller sizes and scale up as needed.
Performance and Scalability
How can I scale my Azure Database for MySQL instance?
You can scale compute (vCores) and storage independently with Flexible Server. Single Server allows scaling of both compute and storage together. Scaling operations can often be performed with minimal downtime.
What are the performance considerations for High Availability?
For High Availability, Flexible Server provides zone-redundant configurations. This ensures your database remains available even in the event of a datacenter outage.
Security and Compliance
What security features are available?
Azure Database for MySQL provides features like Azure Active Directory authentication, SSL/TLS encryption for connections, firewall rules, private endpoints, and Microsoft Defender for databases for threat detection.
Does the service support compliance standards?
Yes, Azure Database for MySQL adheres to various industry compliance standards, including ISO 27001, SOC 1, SOC 2, and HIPAA.
Backup and Restore
How are backups handled?
Automatic backups are performed daily. You can configure the retention period for these backups. Point-in-time restore is available to recover your database to any point within your backup retention period.
Can I take manual backups?
While automated backups are the primary method, you can export your database to a SQL file for manual backup purposes.