Azure Database for MariaDB

Key Information: Azure Database for MariaDB is a managed relational database service based on the open-source MariaDB engine. It's ideal for cloud-native applications and existing database workloads that require a fully managed relational database.

Introduction to Azure Database for MariaDB

Azure Database for MariaDB provides an enterprise-grade managed database service that allows developers to use their favorite open-source database MariaDB with the benefits of a fully managed platform on Azure. The service handles most of the database management functions like patching, backups, and high availability without requiring administrator intervention.

Key Features

Managed Service: No infrastructure management required.
High Availability: Built-in redundancy and failover capabilities.
Scalability: Easily scale compute and storage resources up or down.
Security: Robust security features including network isolation, encryption, and threat detection.
Compatibility: Full compatibility with the MariaDB open-source engine.
Performance: Optimized performance for various workloads.

Getting Started

Create a MariaDB Server

You can create an Azure Database for MariaDB server using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or ARM templates. Here's a quick example using Azure CLI:

az mariadb server create \
    --name mydemoserver \
    --resource-group myresourcegroup \
    --location eastus \
    --admin-user myadmin \
    --admin-password  \
    --sku-name B_Gen5_1 \
    --tier Basic \
    --version 10.3

Connecting to Your Server

Once your server is created, you can connect to it using any standard MariaDB client or application. You'll need the server name, admin username, and password.

Example using mysql client:

mysql -h mydemoserver.mariadb.database.azure.com -u myadmin -p

Key Concepts

Server Tiers and Compute

Azure Database for MariaDB offers three pricing tiers to accommodate different workloads:

Basic: Suitable for workloads that are just starting out and require light compute and I/O performance.
General Purpose: Balances dedicated compute and storage for most business workloads.
Memory Optimized: Provides high memory-to-compute ratios for performance-sensitive relational database workloads.

Compute is provisioned as vCores, and you can choose between different generations.

Storage

Storage is provisioned in fixed increments. You can scale storage independently of compute. Ensure you provision enough storage for your database's growth.

Networking

Secure your MariaDB server by configuring firewall rules or using Private Link for VNet integration. By default, servers are not accessible from the public internet.

Common Tasks

Backups and Restore

Azure Database for MariaDB automatically performs full backups of your data. You can configure the backup retention period. Point-in-time restore allows you to recover your server to a specific point in time within the retention period.

Monitoring Performance

Utilize Azure Monitor to track key metrics such as CPU utilization, memory usage, I/O operations, and connection counts. Set up alerts to be notified of performance issues.

Scaling Your Server

You can scale your server's compute tier, vCores, and storage through the Azure portal or programmatic interfaces. Plan your scaling operations to minimize downtime.

Azure Documentation