Chapter 9. Using a relational database service: RDS

 

This chapter covers

  • Launching and initializing relational databases with RDS
  • Creating and restoring database snapshots
  • Setting up a highly available database
  • Tweaking database performance
  • Monitoring a database

Relational databases are the de facto standard for storing and querying structured data, and many applications are built on top of a relational database system such as MySQL, Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, or PostgreSQL. Typically, relational databases focus on data consistency and guarantee ACID database transactions (atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability). Storing and querying structured data like the accounts and transactions in an accounting application is a typical task for a relational database.

If you want to use a relational database on AWS, you have two options:

  • Use the managed relational database service Amazon RDS, which is offered by AWS.
  • Operate a relational database yourself on top of virtual servers.

The Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) offers ready-to-use relational databases. Under the hood, Amazon RDS operates a common relational database. As we write this book, MySQL, Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, and PostgreSQL are supported. If your application supports one of these relational database systems, the migration to Amazon RDS is easy.

9.1. Starting a MySQL database

9.2. Importing data into a database

9.3. Backing up and restoring your database

9.4. Controlling access to a database

9.5. Relying on a highly available database

9.6. Tweaking database performance

9.7. Monitoring a database

9.8. Summary