MySQL Configuration Requirements

Each of the examples involves one or two database instances: databaseA and databaseB. The Database Tag names are arbitrary names that describe these database instances to LifeKeeper. The word on and the system identifier that follows provide clarification but are not required. The default tag name suggested by LifeKeeper is mysql or mysql for configurations using mysqld Groups (see Using mysqld Groups with LifeKeeper). To understand the configuration examples, keep these configuration requirements in mind:

• LifeKeeper hierarchy. When performing LifeKeeper administration, the primary hierarchy refers to the hierarchy being built on the server you are administering. For the configuration diagrams, the information entered in the first administration screen is from the perspective of Server 1. When a second screen is shown, it refers to the hierarchy being built while administering the second server. In the configuration examples, the second server is Server 2.

• Shared disk locked by one server. When you use LifeKeeper, one server reserves shared storage resources that are under LifeKeeper protection for use. This is done using SCSI reservations. If the shared device is a disk array, an entire LUN is reserved; if a shared device is a disk, then the entire disk is reserved. This prevents inadvertent corruption of the data by other servers in the cluster. When a server fails, the highest priority backup server breaks the old reservation and establishes its own reservation, locking out all other servers.

• Data Directory on shared disk. In order for the LifeKeeper MySQL Recovery Kit to function properly, the data directory (datadir) of the database instance must always be on a shared disk. The data directory must be on a file system. The file system must be mountable from both the primary and backup servers. The data directory (datadir) can also exist on replicated or network attached storage.