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Server concepts in Azure Database for MariaDB

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Important

Azure Database for MariaDB is on the retirement path. We strongly recommend that you migrate to Azure Database for MySQL. For more information about migrating to Azure Database for MySQL, see What's happening to Azure Database for MariaDB?.

This article provides considerations and guidelines for working with Azure Database for MariaDB servers.

What is an Azure Database for MariaDB server?

An Azure Database for MariaDB server is a central administrative point for multiple databases. It is the same MariaDB server construct that you may be familiar with in the on-premises world. Specifically, the Azure Database for MariaDB service is managed, provides performance guarantees, and exposes access and features at server-level.

An Azure Database for MariaDB server:

  • Is created within an Azure subscription.
  • Is the parent resource for databases.
  • Provides a namespace for databases.
  • Is a container with strong lifetime semantics - delete a server and it deletes the contained databases.
  • Collocates resources in a region.
  • Provides a connection endpoint for server and database access.
  • Provides the scope for management policies that apply to its databases: login, firewall, users, roles, configurations, etc.
  • Is available in MariaDB engine version 10.2. For more information, see Supported Azure Database for MariaDB database versions.

Within an Azure Database for MariaDB server, you can create one or multiple databases. You can opt to create a single database per server to use all the resources or to create multiple databases to share the resources. The pricing is structured per-server, based on the configuration of pricing tier, vCores, and storage (GB). For more information, see Pricing tiers.

How do I secure an Azure Database for MariaDB server?

The following elements help ensure safe access to your database.

Security concept Description
Authentication and authorization Azure Database for MariaDB server supports native MySQL authentication. You can connect and authenticate to a server with the server's admin login.
Protocol The service supports a message-based protocol used by MySQL.
TCP/IP The protocol is supported over TCP/IP and over Unix-domain sockets.
Firewall To help protect your data, a firewall rule prevents all access to your database server, until you specify which computers have permission. See Azure Database for MariaDB Server firewall rules.
SSL The service supports enforcing SSL connections between your applications and your database server. See Configure SSL connectivity in your application to securely connect to Azure Database for MariaDB.

Stop/Start an Azure Database for MariaDB (Preview)

Azure Database for MariaDB gives you the ability to Stop the server when not in use and Start the server when you resume activity. This is essentially done to save costs on the database servers and only pay for the resource when in use. This becomes even more important for dev-test workloads and when you are only using the server for part of the day. When you stop the server, all active connections will be dropped. Later, when you want to bring the server back online, you can either use the Azure portal or CLI.

When the server is in the Stopped state, the server's compute is not billed. However, storage continues to be billed as the server's storage remains to ensure that data files are available when the server is started again.

Important

When you Stop the server it remains in that state for the next 7 days in a stretch. If you do not manually Start it during this time, the server will automatically be started at the end of 7 days. You can chose to Stop it again if you are not using the server.

During the time server is stopped, no management operations can be performed on the server. In order to change any configuration settings on the server, you will need to start the server.

Limitations of Stop/start operation

  • Not supported with read replica configurations (both source and replicas).

How do I manage a server?

You can manage Azure Database for MariaDB servers by using the Azure portal or the Azure CLI.

Next steps