Data Transmission Service (DTS) enables two-way synchronization between MySQL databases. This topic explains how to configure this type of synchronization between RDS MySQL instances.
Prerequisites
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The source and destination ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances have been created. For more information, see Create an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.
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The source and destination ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances should have the same storage capacity.
Limitations
During schema synchronization, DTS synchronizes foreign keys from the source database to the destination database.
During full data synchronization and incremental data synchronization, DTS temporarily disables constraint checks and foreign key cascade operations at the session level. Data inconsistency may occur if cascade update or delete operations are performed on the source database while the task is running.
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Type |
Description |
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Source and destination database limits |
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Other limits |
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Special cases |
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Billing
Synchronization type | Pricing |
Schema synchronization and full data synchronization | Free of charge. |
Incremental data synchronization | Charged. For more information, see Billing overview. |
Supported conflict detection
To ensure data consistency, make sure that data records with the same primary key, business primary key, or unique key are updated in only one of the database instances in the two-way synchronization. If data records are updated on both database instances, DTS the system will apply the conflict resolution policy configured in the task.
DTS checks and fixes conflicts to maximize the stability of two-way synchronization tasks. DTS can detect the following types of conflicts:
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Uniqueness conflicts caused by INSERT operations
In two-way synchronization, if records with the same primary key are inserted into both database instances simultaneously (or in close succession), a uniqueness constraint conflict will be triggered. When the INSERT statement is synchronized to the peer instance, it will fail because a record with the same primary key value already exists.
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Mismatched records in UPDATE operations
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If the records to be updated do not exist in the destination instance, DTS converts the UPDATE operation into an INSERT operation. However, uniqueness conflicts may occur.
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The record to be updated by an UPDATE operation causes a primary key or unique key conflict.
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Non-existent records to be deleted
The records to be deleted do not exist in the destination instance. In this case, DTS ignores the DELETE operation regardless of the conflict resolution policy that you specify.
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Due to time differences and latency, DTS cannot guarantee 100% conflict prevention. To ensure consistency, update records with the same primary or unique key on only one database instance at a time.
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DTS provides various conflict resolution strategies for the aforementioned data conflicts, which you can select while configuring two-way data synchronization.
Supported SQL operations
Operation type | SQL statement |
DML | INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE |
DDL |
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Only the forward task (from the source database to the destination database) supports DDL synchronization. The reverse task (from the destination database to the source database) does not support DDL synchronization and automatically filters out DDL operations.
Database account permissions
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Database |
Permissions |
Creation and authorization |
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Source ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
Read and write permissions on the source and destination databases. A privileged account for an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance has the required permissions. |
Create an account and Reset the password of a privileged account. |
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Destination ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
Procedure
Go to the data synchronization task list page in the destination region. You can do this in one of two ways.
DTS console
Log on to the DTS console.
In the navigation pane on the left, click Data Synchronization.
In the upper-left corner of the page, select the region where the synchronization instance is located.
DMS console
NoteThe actual steps may vary depending on the mode and layout of the DMS console. For more information, see Simple mode console and Customize the layout and style of the DMS console.
Log on to the DMS console.
In the top menu bar, choose .
To the right of Data Synchronization Tasks, select the region of the synchronization instance.
Click Create Task to open the task configuration page.
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Configure the source and destination databases.
WarningAfter you select the source and destination instances, review the Limits at the top of the page. Otherwise, the task may fail or data inconsistency may occur.
Category
Parameter
Description
N/A
Task Name
DTS automatically generates a task name. We recommend that you specify a descriptive name for easy identification. The name does not need to be unique.
Source Database
Select Existing Connection
Select the registered database instance with DTS from the drop-down list. The database information below is automatically configured.
NoteIn the DMS console, this configuration item is Select a DMS database instance.
If you have not registered the database instance or do not need to use a registered instance, manually configure the database information below.
Database Type
Select MySQL.
Connection Type
Select Alibaba Cloud Instance.
Instance Region
Select the region where the source RDS MySQL instance is located.
Replicate Data Across Alibaba Cloud Accounts
For this example, select No, as the database instance belongs to the current Alibaba Cloud account.
RDS Instance ID
Select the ID of the source RDS MySQL instance.
NoteThe source and destination RDS MySQL instances can be the same or different. This means you can use DTS to migrate data between two RDS MySQL instances or within the same RDS MySQL instance.
Database Account
Enter the privileged account of the source RDS MySQL instance.
Database Password
Enter the password for the specified database account.
Connection method
Select Non-encrypted or SSL-encrypted as needed. If you set this to SSL-encrypted, you must enable SSL encryption for the RDS for MySQL instance beforehand. For more information, see Use a cloud certificate to quickly enable SSL link encryption.
Destination Database
Select Existing Connection
Select the registered database instance with DTS from the drop-down list. The database information below is automatically configured.
NoteIn the DMS console, this configuration item is Select a DMS database instance.
If you have not registered the database instance or do not need to use a registered instance, manually configure the database information below.
Database Type
Select MySQL.
Connection Type
Select Alibaba Cloud Instance.
Instance Region
Select the region where the destination RDS MySQL instance is located.
Replicate Data Across Alibaba Cloud Accounts
For this example, select No, as the database instance belongs to the current Alibaba Cloud account.
RDS Instance ID
Select the ID of the destination RDS MySQL instance.
Database Account
Enter the privileged account of the destination RDS MySQL instance.
Database Password
Enter the password for the specified database account.
Connection method
Select Non-encrypted or SSL-encrypted as needed. If you set this to SSL-encrypted, you must enable SSL encryption for the RDS for MySQL instance beforehand. For more information, see Use a cloud certificate to quickly enable SSL link encryption.
After completing the configuration, click Test Connectivity and Proceed at the bottom of the page.
NoteEnsure that you add the CIDR blocks of the DTS servers (either automatically or manually) to the security settings of both the source and destination databases to allow access. For more information, see Add the IP address whitelist of DTS servers.
If the source or destination is a self-managed database (i.e., the Access Method is not Alibaba Cloud Instance), you must also click Test Connectivity in the CIDR Blocks of DTS Servers dialog box.
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Configure the task objects.
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On the Configure Objects page, specify the objects to synchronize.
Parameter
Description
Synchronization Types
DTS always selects Incremental Data Synchronization. By default, you must also select Schema Synchronization and Full Data Synchronization. After the precheck, DTS initializes the destination cluster with the full data of the selected source objects, which serves as the baseline for subsequent incremental synchronization.
Method to Migrate Triggers in Source Database
Select a method to synchronize triggers. You can skip this parameter if the objects to be synchronized do not involve triggers. For more information, see Configure how to synchronize or migrate triggers.
NoteThis parameter is available only when Synchronization Types is selected for Schema Synchronization.
Enable Migration Assessment
Assess whether the schemas of the source and destination databases (such as index length, stored procedures, and dependent tables) meet the requirements. You can select Yes or No based on your business needs.
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This parameter is available only when Synchronization Types is selected for Schema Synchronization.
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If you select Yes, the precheck may take longer. You can view the Assessment Result during the precheck phase. The assessment result does not affect the precheck result.
Synchronization Topology
Select Two-way Synchronization.
Enable Exactly-Once Write
If the objects to be synchronized include tables that do not have a primary key or a unique constraint, select Yes. For more information, see Synchronize tables without a primary key or unique constraint.
Exclude DDL Operations
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Yes: DDL operations are not synchronized.
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No: DDL operations are synchronized.
ImportantTo ensure the stability of the two-way synchronization link, this setting applies only to the forward task (from the source database to the destination database). The reverse task (from the destination database to the source database) automatically filters out DDL operations.
Global Conflict Resolution Policy
If you encounter the preceding conflict types, select an appropriate conflict resolution policy based on your business needs.
TaskFailed (Fail and report an error upon conflict)
The task will error out and stop if a conflict occurs. The task enters a failed state and requires manual intervention for recovery.
Ignore (Keep the existing record in the destination instance)
The system skips the conflicting statement and continues the synchronization. The existing record in the destination instance is retained.
Overwrite (Overwrite the conflicting record in the destination instance)
If a conflict occurs, the system overwrites the conflicting record in the destination instance with the data from the source.
NoteIf the synchronization task is paused or restarted and a latency exists, these policies do not take effect during the latency period. By default, the data in the destination database is overwritten.
Processing Mode of Conflicting Tables
Precheck and Report Errors: Checks for tables with the same names in the destination database. If any tables with the same names are found, an error is reported during the precheck and the data synchronization task does not start. Otherwise, the precheck is successful.
NoteIf you cannot delete or rename the table with the same name in the destination database, you can map it to a different name in the destination. For more information, see Database Table Column Name Mapping.
Ignore Errors and Proceed: Skips the check for tables with the same name in the destination database.
WarningSelecting Ignore Errors and Proceed may cause data inconsistency and put your business at risk. For example:
If the table schemas are consistent and a record in the destination database has the same primary key or unique key value as a record in the source database:
During full data synchronization, DTS retains the destination record and skips the source record.
During incremental synchronization, DTS overwrites the destination record with the source record.
If the table schemas are inconsistent, data initialization may fail. This can result in only partial data synchronization or a complete synchronization failure. Use with caution.
Whether to migrate Event
Specify whether to synchronize events from the source database as required. If you select Yes, you must also meet the relevant requirements and perform subsequent operations. For more information, see Synchronize or migrate events.
Capitalization of Object Names in Destination Instance
Configure the case-sensitivity policy for database, table, and column names in the destination instance. By default, the DTS default policy is selected. You can also choose to use the default policy of the source or destination database. For more information, see Case policy for destination object names.
Source Objects
In the Source Objects box, click the objects, and then click
to move them to the Selected Objects box.NoteYou can select objects at the database, table, or column level. If you select only tables or columns, DTS does not synchronize other object types (such as views, triggers, and stored procedures).
Selected Objects
To rename a single object in the destination instance, right-click the object in the Selected Objects box. For more information, see Map a single object name.
To rename multiple objects in bulk, click Batch Edit in the upper-right corner of the Selected Objects box. For more information, see Map multiple object names in bulk.
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To select SQL operations to synchronize at the database or table level, right-click the object in the Selected Objects section and choose the desired SQL operations from the dialog box that appears.
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To set a WHERE clause to filter data, right-click the table in the Selected Objects section and set the filter condition in the dialog box that appears. For instructions, see Specify filter conditions.
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If you use the object name mapping feature, other objects that depend on the mapped object may fail to synchronize.
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To configure an Independent Conflict Resolution Policy for incremental data synchronization, see Set an independent conflict resolution policy.
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Click Next: Advanced Settings.
Parameter
Description
Dedicated Cluster for Task Scheduling
By default, DTS uses a shared cluster for tasks, so you do not need to make a selection. For greater task stability, you can purchase a dedicated cluster to run the DTS synchronization task. For more information, see What is a DTS dedicated cluster?.
Copy the temporary table of the Online DDL tool that is generated in the source table to the destination database.
If the source database uses Data Management (DMS) or gh-ost for online DDL changes, choose whether to synchronize the temporary tables generated during these operations.
ImportantDTS tasks do not currently support online DDL changes performed by tools like pt-online-schema-change. Using such tools will cause the DTS task to fail.
Yes: Synchronizes the temporary tables generated by online DDL changes.
NoteIf the data of temporary tables generated by online DDL changes is too large, it may cause synchronization latency.
No, Adapt to DMS Online DDL: Does not synchronize temporary tables generated by online DDL changes. Instead, it synchronizes only the original DDL statements executed in Data Management (DMS).
NoteThis approach will cause table locks on the destination database.
No, Adapt to gh-ost: Does not the synchronize temporary tables generated by online DDL changes. Instead, it synchronizes only the original DDL statements executed by gh-ost. You can use default or custom regular expressions for gh-ost shadow and trash tables.
NoteThis approach will cause table locks on the destination database.
Whether to Migrate Accounts
Specify whether to synchronize account information from the source database. If you select Yes, you must also select the accounts to be synchronized and confirm their permissions. For more information about authorization methods, see Migrate database accounts.
Retry Time for Failed Connections
If the connection to the source or destination database fails after the synchronization task starts, DTS reports an error and immediately begins to retry the connection. The default retry duration is 720 minutes. You can customize the retry time to a value from 10 to 1,440 minutes. We recommend a duration of 30 minutes or more. If the connection is restored within this period, the task resumes automatically. Otherwise, the task fails.
NoteIf multiple DTS instances (e.g., Instance A and B) share a source or destination, DTS uses the shortest configured retry duration (e.g., 30 minutes for A, 60 for B, so 30 minutes is used) for all instances.
DTS charges for task runtime during connection retries. Set a custom duration based on your business needs, or release the DTS instance promptly after you release the source/destination instances.
Retry Time for Other Issues
If a non-connection issue (e.g., a DDL or DML execution error) occurs, DTS reports an error and immediately retries the operation. The default retry duration is 10 minutes. You can also customize the retry time to a value from 1 to 1,440 minutes. We recommend a duration of 10 minutes or more. If the related operations succeed within the set retry time, the synchronization task automatically resumes. Otherwise, the task fails.
ImportantThe value of Retry Time for Other Issues must be less than that of Retry Time for Failed Connections.
Enable Throttling for Full Data Synchronization
During full data synchronization, DTS consumes read and write resources from the source and destination databases, which can increase their load. To mitigate pressure on the destination database, you can limit the migration rate by setting Queries per second (QPS) to the source database, RPS of Full Data Migration, and Data migration speed for full migration (MB/s).
NoteThis parameter is available only if Synchronization Types is set to Full Data Synchronization.
You can also adjust the rate of full data synchronization when the synchronization instance is running.
Enable Throttling for Incremental Data Synchronization
You can also limit the incremental synchronization rate to reduce pressure on the destination database by setting RPS of Incremental Data Synchronization and Data synchronization speed for incremental synchronization (MB/s).
Environment Tag
You can select an environment tag to identify the instance based on your requirements. This parameter is optional.
Whether to delete SQL operations on heartbeat tables of forward and reverse tasks
Choose whether DTS writes heartbeat SQL information to the source database while the instance is running.
Yes: Does not write heartbeat SQL information to the source database. The DTS instance may display latency.
No: Writes heartbeat SQL information to the source database. This may interfere with source database operations like physical backups and cloning.
Configure ETL
Choose whether to enable the extract, transform, and load (ETL) feature. For more information, see What is ETL? Valid values:
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Yes: Enables the ETL feature. Enter data processing statements in the code editor. For more information, see Configure ETL in a data migration or data synchronization task.
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No: Disables the ETL feature.
Monitoring and Alerting
Choose whether to set up alerts. If the synchronization fails or the latency exceeds the specified threshold, DTS sends a notification to the alert contacts.
No: No alerts are configured.
Yes: Configures alerts. You must also set the alert threshold and alert contact. For more information, see Configure monitoring and alerting during task configuration.
Click Data Verification to configure a data verification task.
To use the data verification feature, see Configure data verification.
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Save the task and perform a precheck.
To view the parameters for configuring this instance via an API operation, hover over the Next: Save Task Settings and Precheck button and click Preview OpenAPI parameters in the tooltip.
If you have finished viewing the API parameters, click Next: Save Task Settings and Precheck at the bottom of the page.
NoteBefore a synchronization task starts, DTS performs a precheck. You can start the task only if the precheck passes.
If the precheck fails, click View Details next to the failed item, fix the issue as prompted, and then rerun the precheck.
If the precheck generates warnings:
For non-ignorable warning, click View Details next to the item, fix the issue as prompted, and run the precheck again.
For ignorable warnings, you can bypass them by clicking Confirm Alert Details, then Ignore, and then OK. Finally, click Precheck Again to skip the warning and run the precheck again. Ignoring precheck warnings may lead to data inconsistencies and other business risks. Proceed with caution.
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Purchase the instance.
When the Success Rate reaches 100%, click Next: Purchase Instance.
On the Purchase page, select the billing method and specifications for the data synchronization instance. For more information, see the following table.
Category
Parameter
Description
New Instance Class
Billing Method
Subscription: You pay when you create the instance. This is suitable for long-term needs, is more affordable than pay-as-you-go, and offers greater discounts for longer subscription durations.
Pay-as-you-go: Billed hourly. This is suitable for short-term needs. You can release the instance immediately after use to save costs.
Resource Group Configuration
The resource group to which the instance belongs. The default is default resource group. For more information, see What is Resource Management?.
Link Specification
DTS provides synchronization specifications with different performance levels. The link specification affects the synchronization rate. You can choose one based on your business scenario. For more information, see Data synchronization link specifications.
Synchronization Topology
Fixed as Two-way Synchronization.
Subscription Duration
In subscription mode, select the duration and quantity for the subscription instance. You can choose from 1 to 9 months for a monthly subscription, or 1, 2, 3, or 5 years for a yearly subscription.
NoteThis option appears only when the billing method is Subscription.
Read and select the checkbox for Data Transmission Service (Pay-as-you-go) Service Terms.
Click Buy and Start, and then click OK in the OK dialog box.
You can monitor the task progress on the data synchronization page.
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Configure the reverse synchronization task.
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Wait for the forward synchronization task to complete initialization until its Status is Running.
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Locate the reverse synchronization task and click Configure Task.
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Configure the reverse synchronization task by following Step 3 to Step 6.
Important-
When configuring the reverse task, ensure you select the correct source and destination instances. The source for the reverse task is the destination from the forward task, and vice versa. Carefully verify that all instance information (database name, account, password, etc.) is consistent.
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The Instance Region for the source and destination databases of the reverse task cannot be modified. Fewer parameters are required than for the forward task. Refer to the console for the actual configuration options.
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The Processing Mode of Conflicting Tables setting for the reverse task does not check tables that were synchronized to the destination instance by the forward task.
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The reverse task does not support synchronizing objects from the Selected Objects list of the forward task.
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We do not recommend using the object name mapping feature when configuring the reverse task, as it may lead to data inconsistency.
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When the Success Rate reaches 100%, click Back.
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Once the reverse task is configured, wait for the Status of both tasks to change to Running. This completes the two-way data synchronization setup.