SQL and MySQL clustering solutions

SQL clustering

Structured Query Language (SQL) clustering is the configuration of two or more servers to operate as a single SQL server to support database transactions.
If one SQL server fails in the cluster, another clustered server automatically takes over, which keeps downtime to minutes. In normal circumstances it would take hours or days.

MySQL clustering

99.999% availability is offered with full MySQL clustering, and both failover resilience and increased database performance are provided. MySQL clustered solutions are ideal for mission critical projects where any length of downtime is unacceptable.

Data is not on the hard disk as it is stored in the server’s main memory (RAM), so that database transactions can be processed exceptionally quickly. Clustering requires a configuration of three or more nodes to operate as a single virtual MySQL server. Typically, a configuration would have two load balanced Web/MySQL servers and a third MySQL server, which is known as a management node.

No single point of failure is provided with MySQL clustering, with the added advantage of geographical flexibility. Customers can opt to cluster their solution across data centres, using a shared or private VLAN for additional redundancy.

Clustering methods

There are two primary clustering methods:

• Active-Active: both servers in the cluster process the transactions typically at 50% of the total resources.
• Active-Passive: only one server in the cluster processes the transactions. The second server only processes transactions if the first server fails.

Why is clustering needed for SQL or MySQL servers?

• Load balancing spreads work evenly between the nodes in the cluster, allowing all of the websites to be quicker.
• High availability provides no single point of failure. So if a node fails, the next server will back it up, which means no downtime for any of your sites.
• They are easy to manage and administer because the nodes in the cluster are handled as one single system.
• Scalability allows the expansion of a cluster as a clients company grows.

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