In July 2018, I blogged about all of the great work this team has done to deliver additional features and functionality to our Azure database services for MySQL and PostgreSQL. Since then, the team has been hard at work on our strategy of providing more choices of relational database engines and extending a new set of features and functionality, which we are delivering in alignment with the Ignite 2018 conference. I am pleased to share with you some more information about the additions we’ve made to our offerings and to our existing services, which we are proud to continue implementing based on feedback from our customers and users.
Azure Database for MariaDB now in preview
The Azure Database for MariaDB service now available in preview, offers an enterprise-ready, fully managed community MariaDB, featuring open-source compatibility, built-in high availability, dynamic scaling, and flexible pricing. The MariaDB Community edition helps customers easily lift and shift to the cloud, using languages and frameworks of their choice. Customers can now leverage the power of MariaDB running on Azure!
Azure Database for MySQL – Read Replica now in preview
Azure Database for MySQL now supports continuous asynchronous replication of data from one Azure Database for MySQL server (master) to up to five Azure Database for MySQL servers (replicas) in the same region. This allows read-heavy workloads to scale beyond the capacity constraints of one Azure Database for MySQL server and be balanced across replica servers according to users' preference. Replica servers are read-only except for writes replicated from data changes on the master. Stopping replication to a replica server causes it to become a standalone server that accepts reads and writes.
Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Intelligent Performance features now in preview
Azure Database for PostgreSQL now provides preview support for Query Store, Query Performance Insight, and Performance Recommendations as part of its Intelligent Performance offering. Using this combination of features, customers can inspect their databases to understand their workloads, identify bottlenecks, and detect changes in query performance.
- Query Store collects and stores query execution statistics and wait event distributions. This enables customers to inspect their database to understand their workloads, identify bottlenecks, and detect changes in query performance. Query Store also enables the two additional Intelligent Performance features, Query Performance Insight and Performance Recommendations.
- Query Performance Insight enables customers to use the Azure Portal to visually inspect their database workloads so that they can identify long-running queries, inspect wait statistics associated with queries, and identify fluctuations in query performance.
- Performance Recommendations allows customers to analyze a database and get a list of recommendations, if any, for improving the performance of that database. Currently, the Performance Recommendations feature generates only create index recommendations. Each create index recommendation contains general information, such as table name and column names, along with a SQL command for creating the associated index. To act on performance recommendations, customers can copy the command and paste it into their PostgreSQL client application. After implementing any performance recommendation, customers should test performance to identify the impact those changes have made.
Azure database services for MySQL and PostgreSQL – Advanced Threat Protection now in preview
Advanced Threat Protection for Azure database services for MySQL and PostgreSQL enables customers to detect and respond to potential threats as they occur. Users receive an alert upon suspicious database activities, with potential vulnerabilities, anomalous database access, and query patterns. This feature integrates alerts with Azure Security Center to provide details of suspicious activity and recommendations on how to investigate and mitigate them. Advanced Threat Protection also makes it simple to address database threats without the need for a security expert or to manage advanced security monitoring systems.
Azure database services for MySQL and PostgreSQL – Online migrations to Azure now in preview
The Azure Database Migration Service (DMS), a fully managed service designed to enable seamless migrations from multiple database sources to Azure Data platforms with minimal downtime, now provides preview support for:
- MySQL databases running on-premises or on virtual machines to Azure Database for MySQL.
- PostgreSQL databases running on-premises or on virtual machines to Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
Additional resources for Azure database services for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB
If you are currently working with one of these database services, you might find the following links useful:
- Azure Database for MariaDB
- Azure Database for MySQL
- Azure Database for PostgreSQL
- Signup for a free account on Azure
- Azure Database Migration Guide
I hope that you enjoy working with the latest features and functionality available in our Azure database services for MariaDB, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. Be sure to share your impressions via User Voice for MariaDB, MySQL, or PostgreSQL.