How To Set Up MariaDB Using Amazon RDS

Introduction

This guide provides information on setting up and configuring a MariaDB database required for Enactor Central Applications. The database will be provisioned using Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service).

Overview

This guide will cover the following:

• Prerequisites - Describes the conditions and criteria that should be met before provisioning a MariaDB database.

• Database parameters - Describes the custom values that need to be set for certain database parameters.

• Database provision - Describes the steps to provision the database.

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Prerequisites

• An account should be created on AWS (Amazon Web Services).

• A payment method should be configured for services that will be used on AWS.

• User should have sufficient knowledge on using AWS management console.

• User should have sufficient knowledge on databases.

note

This guide will not cover provisioning a database within the free tier. Provisioning a database using this guide will incur a cost. The database specifications used in this guide are for reference purposes only. Appropriate database specifications must be selected based on the requirements.

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Database Parameters

A parameter group needs to be created, and certain values need to be customized. Login to the AWS account and switch into the region of preference. Choosing a region closer to the infrastructure where the applications are deployed will result in low latency.

Creating a custom parameter group

• Go to RDS in AWS management console.

• Select Parameter groups from the panel on the left.

• Click Create parameter group.

• Provide a meaningful name for the parameter group.

• Provide a meaningful description for the parameter group.

• Select MariaDB from the Engine type dropdown menu.

• Select mariadb10.11 from the Parameter group family dropdown menu.

• Click Create.

Customizing parameters

• Select the parameter group created and select Edit from the Action dropdown menu.

• Search for parameters mentioned in the below table and modify the values accordingly and click Save Changes.

Parameter name	Parameter value
innodb_file_per_table	1
innodb_log_buffer_size	268435456
innodb_log_file_size	268435456
innodb_write_io_threads	16
lower_case_table_names	1
collation_connection	utf8mb4_unicode_ci
collation_server	utf8mb4_unicode_ci
character_set_client	utf8mb4
character_set_connection	utf8mb4
character_set_database	utf8mb4
character_set_filesystem	utf8mb4
character_set_results	utf8mb4
character_set_server	utf8mb4
tx_isolation	READ-COMMITTED

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Database Provision

An RDS instance needs to be provisioned. This RDS will be backed by the MariaDB database engine.

• Go to RDS in AWS management console.

• Select Databases from the panel on the left.

• Click Create database.

• Select Standard create option from the Choose a database option method.

• Select MariaDB from the Engine options.

• Select the preferred MariaDB version from the Engine version dropdown menu.

• Under Settings,

  • Provide a meaningful name for DB instance identifier.

  • Provide the master username.

  • Provide the master password.

note

AWS secret manager can be used for password generation. However, for simplicity, the Self managed option will be used under credential management. Passwords can be based on choice or auto-generated. Ensure to make a note of the username and password provided in this step.

• Select the preferred instance class from the DB instance class dropdown menu.

• Provide a reasonable value for Allocated storage based on requirements.

• Configure availability and connectivity settings based on requirements and infrastructure needs.

• Under Additional configuration,

  • Provide the required database name for Initial database name.

  • Select the parameter group created in the previous section from the DB parameter group dropdown menu.

  • Configure backup, encryption and maintenance setting based on requirements.

  • Enabling database deletion protection is the recommended practice.

• Click Create database. Database creation will take some time.

• Once the database creation is complete (status will be marked as Available), make a note of the endpoint and the port under the Connectivity & security tab.

• Configure the application to use the provisioned RDS.

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