Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database Instances Flashcards
How do I get started with Amazon RDS?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
To sign up for Amazon RDS, you must have an Amazon Web Services account. Create an account if you do not already have one. After you are signed up, please refer to the Amazon RDS documentation, which includes our Getting Started Guide.
Amazon RDS is part of the AWS Free Tier so that new AWS customers can get started with a managed database service in the cloud for free.
What is a database instance (DB instance)?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
You can think of a DB instance as a database environment in the cloud with the compute and storage resources you specify. You can create and delete DB instances, define/refine infrastructure attributes of your DB instance(s), and control access and security via the AWS Management Console, Amazon RDS APIs, and AWS Command Line Interface. You can run one or more DB instances, and each DB instance can support one or more databases or database schemas, depending on engine type.
How do I create a DB instance?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
DB instances are simple to create, using either the AWS Management Console, Amazon RDS APIs, or AWS Command Line Interface. To launch a DB instance using the AWS Management Console, click “RDS,” then the Launch DB Instance button on the Instances tab. From there, you can specify the parameters for your DB instance including DB engine and version, license model, instance type, storage type and amount, and master user credentials.
You also have the ability to change your DB instance’s backup retention policy, preferred backup window, and scheduled maintenance window. Alternatively, you can create your DB instance using the CreateDBInstance API or create-db-instance command.
How do I access my running DB instance?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
Once your DB instance is available, you can retrieve its endpoint via the DB instance description in the AWS Management Console, DescribeDBInstances API or describe-db-instances command. Using this endpoint you can construct the connection string required to connect directly with your DB instance using your favorite database tool or programming language. In order to allow network requests to your running DB instance, you will need to authorize access. For a detailed explanation of how to construct your connection string and get started, please refer to our Getting Started Guide.
How many DB instances can I run with Amazon RDS?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
By default, customers are allowed to have up to a total of 40 Amazon RDS DB instances. Of those 40, up to 10 can be Oracle or SQL Server DB instances under the “License Included” model. All 40 can be used for Amazon Aurora, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and Oracle under the “BYOL” model. Note that RDS for SQL Server has a limit of 30 databases on a single DB instance.
If your application requires more DB instances, you can request additional DB instances via this request form.
How many databases or schemas can I run within a DB instance?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
RDS for Amazon Aurora: No limit imposed by software
RDS for MySQL: No limit imposed by software
RDS for MariaDB: No limit imposed by software
RDS for Oracle: 1 database per instance; no limit on number of schemas per database imposed by software
RDS for SQL Server: 30 databases per instance
RDS for PostgreSQL: No limit imposed by software
How do I import data into an Amazon RDS DB instance?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
There are a number of simple ways to import data into Amazon RDS, such as with the mysqldump or mysqlimport utilities for MySQL; Data Pump, import/export or SQL Loader for Oracle; Import/Export wizard, full backup files (.bak files) or Bulk Copy Program (BCP) for SQL Server; or pg_dump for PostgreSQL. For more information on data import and export, please refer to the Data Import Guide for MySQL or the Data Import Guide for Oracle or the Data Import Guide for SQL Server or the Data Import Guide for PostgreSQL.
In addition, AWS Database Migration Service can help you migrate databases to AWS easily and securely.
What is a maintenance window? Will my DB instance be available during maintenance events?
Database Instances
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) | Database
The Amazon RDS maintenance window is your opportunity to control when DB instance modifications (such as scaling DB instance class) and software patching occur, in the event they are requested or required. If a maintenance event is scheduled for a given week, it will be initiated and completed at some point during the maintenance window you identify. Maintenance windows are 30 minutes in duration.
The only maintenance events that require Amazon RDS to take your DB instance offline are scale compute operations (which generally take only a few minutes from start-to-finish) or required software patching. Required patching is automatically scheduled only for patches that are security and durability related. Such patching occurs infrequently (typically once every few months) and should seldom require more than a fraction of your maintenance window. If you do not specify a preferred weekly maintenance window when creating your DB instance, a 30 minute default value is assigned. If you wish to modify when maintenance is performed on your behalf, you can do so by modifying your DB instance in the AWS Management Console, the ModifyDBInstance API or the modify-db-instance command. Each of your DB instances can have different preferred maintenance windows, if you so choose.
Running your DB instance as a Multi-AZ deployment can further reduce the impact of a maintenance event. Please refer to the Amazon RDS User Guide for more information on maintenance operations.
