alter_algorithm

Overview

In 11.4 ES, 10.6 ES, 10.6 CS, 10.5 ES, 10.5 CS, 10.4 ES, 10.4 CS, 10.3 ES, 10.3 CS:

Configures the server to use specific algorithms for ALTER TABLE operations.

In 11.4 ES, 10.6 ES, 10.5 ES, 10.4 ES:

Configures the server to use specific algorithms for ALTER TABLE operations.

In 10.2 ES, 10.2 CS:

Not present

USAGE

The alter_algorithm system variable can be set in a configuration file:

[mariadb]
alter_algorithm=INPLACE

The global value of the alter_algorithm system variable can also be set dynamically at runtime by executing SET GLOBAL:

SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm='INPLACE';

The session value of the alter_algorithm system variable can also be set dynamically at runtime by executing SET SESSION:

SET SESSION alter_algorithm='INPLACE';

When the alter_algorithm system variable is set dynamically at runtime, its value will be reset the next time the server restarts. To make the value persist on restart, set it in a configuration file too.

DETAILS

This system variable can configure the server to use specific algorithms for ALTER TABLE operations:

Alter Algorithm

Description

DEFAULT

In this mode, the server uses the most efficient algorithm for a given operation.

COPY

In this mode, the server will only use the COPY algorithm for any operation. This algorithm is very slow and inefficient, so it is not generally desirable to set this value.

INPLACE

In this mode, the server will only use the INPLACE, NOCOPY, or INSTANT algorithms. Operations that only support the COPY algorithm will be rejected.

NOCOPY

In this mode, the server will only use the NOCOPY or INSTANT algorithms. Operations that only support the COPY or INPLACE algorithms will be rejected.

INSTANT

In this mode, the server will only use the INSTANT algorithm. Operations that only support the COPY, INPLACE, or NOCOPY algorithms will be rejected.

SYNONYMS

SCHEMA

PARAMETERS

Command-line

--alter_algorithm[={DEFAULT|COPY|INPLACE|NOCOPY|INSTANT}]

Configuration file

Supported

Dynamic

Yes

Scope

Global, Session

Data Type

ENUM (DEFAULT, COPY, INPLACE, NOCOPY, INSTANT)

Product Default Value

DEFAULT

SKYSQL

Cloud

SkySQL Topology

ES Ver

Service Default

AWS

Multi-Node Analytics

10.6

DEFAULT

Single Node Analytics

10.6

DEFAULT

Replicated Transactions

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

Single Node Transactions

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

GCP

Multi-Node Analytics

10.6

DEFAULT

Single Node Analytics

10.6

DEFAULT

Replicated Transactions

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

Single Node Transactions

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

Cloud

SkySQL Topology

ES Ver

Service Default

AWS

ColumnStore Data Warehouse

10.6

DEFAULT

Enterprise Server With Replica(s)

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

Enterprise Server Single Node

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

GCP

ColumnStore Data Warehouse

10.6

DEFAULT

Enterprise Server With Replica(s)

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

Enterprise Server Single Node

10.4

DEFAULT

10.5

DEFAULT

10.6

DEFAULT

PRIVILEGES

The alter_algorithm system variable requires the SUPER privilege to dynamically set its global value at runtime.

The alter_algorithm system variable does not require any special privilege to dynamically set its session value at runtime.

EXAMPLES

Disambiguating Default Values

When you set the session value of the alter_algorithm system variable, the value DEFAULT has two different meanings, depending on whether the value is quoted.

Let's say that the value is quoted:

SET SESSION alter_algorithm='DEFAULT';

SHOW SESSION VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | DEFAULT |
+-----------------+---------+

This sets the session value to the literal value of DEFAULT, which tells the server to use the default alter algorithm for all ALTER TABLE operations.

Let's say that the value is not quoted:

SET SESSION alter_algorithm=DEFAULT;

SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | INPLACE |
+-----------------+---------+
SHOW SESSION VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | INPLACE |
+-----------------+---------+

This sets the session value to the global value.

In contrast, when you set the global value of the alter_algorithm system variable, the value DEFAULT only has a single meaning:

SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm='DEFAULT';

SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | DEFAULT |
+-----------------+---------+
SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm=DEFAULT;

SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | DEFAULT |
+-----------------+---------+

Dynamically Resetting Global Value to Default

The global value of the alter_algorithm system variable can be dynamically reset to the default value by setting it to DEFAULT:

SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm='INPLACE';

SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | INPLACE |
+-----------------+---------+
SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm=DEFAULT;

SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | DEFAULT |
+-----------------+---------+

Resetting Session Value to Global Value

The session value of the alter_algorithm system variable can be reset to the global value by setting it to DEFAULT:

SET SESSION alter_algorithm='INPLACE';

SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | DEFAULT |
+-----------------+---------+
SHOW SESSION VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | INPLACE |
+-----------------+---------+
SET SESSION alter_algorithm=DEFAULT;

SHOW SESSION VARIABLES LIKE 'alter_algorithm';
+-----------------+---------+
| Variable_name   | Value   |
+-----------------+---------+
| alter_algorithm | DEFAULT |
+-----------------+---------+

Invalid Value for Variable

If a user tries to set the alter_algorithm system variable to an invalid value, then the operation will fail with the ER_WRONG_VALUE_FOR_VAR error code:

SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm=-1;
ERROR 1231 (42000): Variable 'alter_algorithm' can't be set to the value of '-1'

Invalid Type for Variable

If a user tries to set the alter_algorithm system variable to an invalid argument, then the operation will fail with the ER_WRONG_TYPE_FOR_VAR error code:

SET GLOBAL alter_algorithm=1.0;
ERROR 1232 (42000): Incorrect argument type to variable 'alter_algorithm'

ERROR HANDLING

FEATURE INTERACTION

RESPONSES

DIAGNOSIS

ISO 9075:2016

CHANGE HISTORY

Release Series

History

11.4 Enterprise

  • Not present.

10.6 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.6.4-1.

10.6 Community

  • Present starting in MariaDB Community Server 10.6.0.

10.5 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.5.3-1.

10.5 Community

  • Present starting in MariaDB Community Server 10.5.0.

10.4 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.4.6-1.

10.4 Community

  • Present starting in MariaDB Community Server 10.4.0.

10.3 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.3.16-1.

10.3 Community

  • Added in MariaDB Community Server 10.3.7.

10.2 Enterprise

  • Not present.

10.2 Community

  • Not present.

Release Series

History

11.4 Enterprise

  • Not present.

10.6 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.6.4-1.

10.5 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.5.3-1.

10.4 Enterprise

  • Present starting in MariaDB Enterprise Server 10.4.6-1.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES