Step 6: Start and Configure MariaDB MaxScale

Overview

This page details step 6 of the 7-step procedure "Deploy Primary/Replica Topology".

This step starts and configures MariaDB MaxScale 2.5.

Interactive commands are detailed. Alternatively, the described operations can be performed using automation.

Replace the Default Configuration File

MariaDB MaxScale installations include a configuration file with some example objects. This configuration file should be replaced.

On the MaxScale node, replace the default /etc/maxscale.cnf with the following configuration:

[maxscale]
threads          = auto
admin_host       = 0.0.0.0
admin_secure_gui = false

For additional information, see "Global Parameters".

Restart MaxScale

On the MaxScale node, restart the MaxScale service to ensure that MaxScale picks up the new configuration:

$ sudo systemctl restart maxscale

For additional information, see "Start and Stop Services".

Configure Server Objects

On the MaxScale node, use maxctrl create server to create a server object for each MariaDB Enterprise Server:

$ maxctrl create server node1 192.0.2.101
$ maxctrl create server node2 192.0.2.102
$ maxctrl create server node3 192.0.2.103

Configure MariaDB Monitor

MaxScale uses monitors to retrieve additional information from the servers. This information is used by other services in filtering and routing connections based on the current state of the node. For MariaDB Replication, use the MariaDB Monitor (mariadbmon).

On the MaxScale node, use maxctrl create monitor to create a MariaDB Monitor:

$ maxctrl create monitor mdb_monitor mariadbmon \
     --monitor-user mxs \
     --monitor-password 'MAXSCALE_USER_PASSWORD' \
     replication_user=repl \
     replication_password='REPLICATION_USER_PASSWORD' \
     --servers node1 node2 node3

In this example:

Choose a MaxScale Router

Routers control how MaxScale balances the load between Enterprise Server nodes. Each router uses a different approach to routing queries. Consider the specific use case of your application and database load and select the router that best suits your needs.

Router

Configuration Procedure

Description

Read Connection (readconnroute)

Configure Read Connection Router

  • Connection-based load balancing

  • Routes connections to Enterprise Server nodes designated as replica servers for a read-only pool

  • Routes connections to an Enterprise Server node designated as the primary server for a read-write pool.

Read/Write Split (readwritesplit)

Configure Read/Write Split

  • Query-based load balancing

  • Routes write queries to an Enterprise Server node designated as the primary server

  • Routes read queries to Enterprise Server designated as replica servers

  • Automatically reconnects after node failures

  • Automatically replays transactions after node failures

  • Optionally enforces causal reads

Configure Read Connection Router

Use MaxScale Read Connection Router (readconnroute) to route connections to replica servers for a read-only pool.

On the MaxScale node, use maxctrl create service to create a router:

$ maxctrl create service connection_router_service readconnroute \
     user=mxs \
     password='MAXSCALE_USER_PASSWORD' \
     router_options=slave \
     --servers node1 node2 node3

In this example:

  • connection_router_service is an arbitrary name that is used to identify the new service.

  • readconnroute is the name of the module that implements the Read Connection Router.

  • user=MAXSCALE_USER sets the user parameter to the database user account that MaxScale uses to connect to the ES nodes.

  • password=MAXSCALE_USER_PASSWORD sets the password parameter to the password used by the database user account that MaxScale uses to connect to the ES nodes.

  • router_options=slave sets the router_options parameter parameter to slave, so that MaxScale only routes connections to the replica nodes.

  • --servers sets the servers parameter to the set of nodes to which MaxScale should route connections. All non-option arguments after --servers are interpreted as server names.

  • Other Module Parameters supported by readconnroute in MaxScale 2.5 can also be specified.

Configure Listener for the Read Connection Router

These instructions reference TCP port 3308. You can use a different TCP port. The TCP port used must not be bound by any other listener.

On the MaxScale node, use the maxctrl create listener command to configure MaxScale to use a listener for the Read Connection Router (readconnroute):

$ maxctrl create listener connection_router_service connection_router_listener 3308 \
     --protocol=MariaDBClient

In this example:

  • connection_router_service is the name of the readconnroute service that was previously created.

  • connection_router_listener is an arbitrary name that is used to identify the new listener.

  • 3308 is the TCP port.

  • --protocol=MariaDBClient sets the protocol parameter.

  • Other Module Parameters supported by listeners in MaxScale 2.5 can also be specified.

Configure Read/Write Split Router for Queries

MaxScale Read/Write Split Router (readwritesplit) performs query-based load balancing. The router routes write queries to the primary and read queries to the replicas.

On the MaxScale node, use the maxctrl create service command to configure MaxScale to use the Read/Write Split Router (readwritesplit):

$ maxctrl create service query_router_service readwritesplit  \
      user=mxs \
      password='MAXSCALE_USER_PASSWORD' \
      --servers node1 node2 node3

In this example:

  • query_router_service is an arbitrary name that is used to identify the new service.

  • readwritesplit is the name of the module that implements the Read/Write Split Router.

  • user=MAXSCALE_USER sets the user parameter to the database user account that MaxScale uses to connect to the ES nodes.

  • password=MAXSCALE_USER_PASSWORD sets the password parameter to the password used by the database user account that MaxScale uses to connect to the ES nodes.

  • --servers sets the servers parameter to the set of nodes to which MaxScale should route queries. All non-option arguments after --servers are interpreted as server names.

  • Other Module Parameters supported by readwritesplit in MaxScale 2.5 can also be specified.

Configure a Listener for the Read/Write Split Router

These instructions reference TCP port 3307. You can use a different TCP port. The TCP port used must not be bound by any other listener.

On the MaxScale node, use the maxctrl create listener command to configure MaxScale to use a listener for the Read/Write Split Router (readwritesplit):

$ maxctrl create listener query_router_service query_router_listener 3307 \
     --protocol=MariaDBClient

In this example:

  • query_router_service is the name of the readwritesplit service that was previously created.

  • query_router_listener is an arbitrary name that is used to identify the new listener.

  • 3307 is the TCP port.

  • --protocol=MariaDBClient sets the protocol parameter.

  • Other Module Parameters supported by listeners in MaxScale 2.5 can also be specified.

Start Services

To start the services and monitors, on the MaxScale node use maxctrl start services:

$ maxctrl start services

Next Step

Navigation in the procedure "Deploy Primary/Replica Topology":

  • This page was step 6 of 7.