Getting started with the MariaDB MaxScale GUI

Posted on March 31, 2021 by
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MariaDB MaxScale is an advanced database proxy and a core component of MariaDB Platform – powering its enterprise high availability, scalability, security and integration services. MariaDB MaxScale 2.5 delivers many new features, including MaxScale GUI, a graphic user interface for managing MaxScale. The MaxScale GUI provides an alternative to using the MaxCtrl command-line utility or directly editing the config file and makes live and dynamic changes to MaxScale in-flight accessible in more operating environments than before.

This blog walks you through installing and configuring the MaxScale GUI.

MariaDB MaxScale Configuration

Install MariaDB Enterprise Server and MaxScale

Because installations vary, I haven’t included full instructions here. See the MariaDB Enterprise documentation for complete installation instructions:

The short version is:

Install MariaDB Enterprise Server

Install MariaDB Enterprise Server and MariaDB Enterprise Backup:

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-backup

Install MariaDB MaxScale

Check the version of MaxScale in the repository files (ensure version 2.5):

vim /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mariadb.list

Install MaxScale:

sudo apt install maxscale

Create MaxScale Users

Use the mariadb command line to create a MaxScale user and grant that user the necessary privileges. If you are using MariaDB Replication, a “replication” user is also required. The replication user is not required with Galera cluster configurations.

mariadb
CREATE USER 'maxscale'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'PASSWORD';
GRANT SHOW DATABASES, BINLOG ADMIN, READ ONLY ADMIN, RELOAD, 
REPLICATION MASTER ADMIN, REPLICATION SLAVE ADMIN, 
REPLICATION SLAVE, SLAVE MONITOR ON *.* TO 'maxscale'@'%';

For the replication user:

mariadb
CREATE USER 'replication'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'PASSWORD';
GRANT REPLICATION MASTER ADMIN, REPLICATION SLAVE ADMIN, 
REPLICATION SLAVE, SLAVE MONITOR ON *.* TO 'replication'@'%';

Configure MaxScale

I want to focus on how to set up MariaDB MaxScale to use the MariaDB MaxScale GUI. This configuration will enable the MaxScale GUI and then the GUI can be used for further configuration.

/etc/maxscale.cnf

[maxscale]
threads=auto
admin_host            = 0.0.0.0
admin_port            = 8989
 
admin_ssl_key=/etc/certs/server-key.pem
admin_ssl_cert=/etc/certs/server-cert.pem
admin_ssl_ca_cert=/etc/certs/ca-cert.pem
 
[server1]
type=server
address=127.0.0.1
port=3306
protocol=MariaDBBackend
 
[MariaDB-Monitor]
type=monitor
module=mariadbmon
servers=server1
user=maxscale
password=PASSWORD
monitor_interval=2000
[Read-Only-Service]
type=service
router=readconnroute
servers=server1
user=maxscale
password=PASSWORD
router_options=slave
 
[Read-Write-Service]
type=service
router=readwritesplit
servers=server1
user=maxscale
password=PASSWORD

Restart MaxScale to apply the new configuration:

systemctl start maxscale

Create Self Signed Certificate for MaxScale Rest API

1. Create certificate and keys of Certification Authority:

mkdir /etc/certs
cd /etc/certs/
openssl genrsa 2048 > ca-key.pem
openssl req -new -x509 -nodes -days 365000 -key ca-key.pem -out ca-cert.pem
CN=ca.example.com

2. Create MaxScale certificate:

openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -days 365000    
-keyout server-key.pem    -out server-req.pem
CN=maxscale1.example.comserver124.labs.mydomain.com
openssl x509 -req -days 365000 -set_serial 01 -in server-req.pem 
-out server-cert.pem -CA ca-cert.pem -CAkey ca-key.pem

3. Create client certificates:

openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -days 365000    
-keyout client-key.pem    -out client-req.pem
CN=client.examplemariadb.com
openssl x509 -req -days 365000 -set_serial 01    
-in client-req.pem    -out client-cert.pem    -CA ca-cert.pem    -CAkey ca-key.pem

4. Verify produced certificates:

openssl verify -CAfile ca-cert.pem    ca-cert.pem    server-cert.pem
openssl verify -CAfile ca-cert.pem    ca-cert.pem    client-cert.pem

5. Use and apply the new certificates:

chmod +r server-key.pem
systemctl restart maxscale

Create MaxGUI Admin User

Create a user account to access MaxGUI.

maxctrl --secure --hosts=maxscale1.example.comserver124.labs.mydomain.com:8989 
--tls-key=/etc/certs/client-key.pem 
--tls-cert=/etc/certs/client-cert.pem 
--tls-ca-cert=/etc/certs/ca-cert.pem create user 
"maxscale_rest_admin" "PASSWORD" --type=admin

Check MaxCtrl Command Line

You can use maxctrl from the command line to check that the changes you made are working.

maxctrl --secure --hosts=maxscale1.example.com:8989 
--tls-key=/etc/certs/client-key.pem 
--tls-cert=/etc/certs/client-cert.pem 
--tls-ca-cert=/etc/certs/ca-cert.pem list servers

Access MaxScale GUI

MaxScale GUI can be accessed and viewed easily with a simple web browser using an address like the following example:

https://maxscale1.example.com:8989/

user "maxscale_rest_admin" "PASSWORD"

Access MaxScale REST API

MaxScale Rest API can be accessed and viewed easily with a simple web browser using an address like the following example:

https://maxscale1.example.com:8989/v1/services

MariaDB MaxScale login

Graphical Management

With the MaxScale GUI configured, you have a graphical alternative to using the MaxCtrl command-line utility or directly editing the config file. The MaxScale GUI provides clear visibility and an easy-to-understand interface to make changes and perform live configuration. For example, MaxGUI allows you to dynamically add a new node to an existing cluster.

MariaDB MaxScale 2.5.6 UI

For More Information

Here are some links to other information you may find helpful.