Replication Overview
Replication is a feature allowing the contents of one or more master servers to be mirrored on one or more slave servers.
You can exert control over which data to replicate. All databases, one or more databases, or tables within a database can all be selectively replicated.
The main mechanism used in replication is the binary log. If binary logging is enabled, all updates to the database (data manipulation and data definition) are written into the binary log as binlog events. Slaves read the binary log from each master in order to access the data to replicate.
Masters and slaves do not need to be in constant communication with each other. It's quite possible to take servers offline or disconnect from the network, and when they come back, replication will continue where it left off.
Replication Uses
Replication is used in a number of common scenarios. Uses include:
- Scalability. By having one or more slave servers, reads can be spread over multiple servers, reducing the load on the master. The most common scenario for a high-read, low-write environment is to have one master, where all the writes occur, replicating to multiple slaves, which handle most of the reads.
- Data analysis. Analyzing data may have too much of an impact on a master server, and this can similarly be handled on a slave server, while the master continues unaffected by the extra load.
- Backup assistance. Backups can more easily be run if a server is not actively changing the data. A common scenario is to replicate the data to slave, which is then disconnected from the master with the data in a stable state. Backup is then performed from this server. See Replication as a Backup Solution.
- Distribution of data. Instead of being connected to a remote master, it's possible to replicate the data locally and work from this data instead.
