SkySQL implements a groundbreaking, state-of-the-art architecture based on Kubernetes and ServiceNow, and with a strong emphasis on cloud security – using compartmentalization and indirect access to secure and protect customer databases. In this session, we’ll walk through the architecture of SkySQL and discuss how MariaDB leverages an advanced Kubernetes operator and powerful ServiceNow configuration/workflow management to deploy and manage databases on cloud infrastructure.

1. SkySQL Architecture
OpenWorks May 2020

2. Agenda
● Quick Background
● Guiding Principles
● High Level Architecture
● Examples of a topology deployment
● Security and Resiliency
● Q&A

3. WHAT IS SKYSQL?
● Cloud database-as-a-service (DBaaS) for MariaDB Platform
● For transactional (OLTP), analytical (OLAP) and hybrid (HTAP) workloads
● Built and operated by MariaDB Corporation
● Designed to support multi and hybrid cloud deployments

4. Guiding principles of the architecture
● Flexible
○ Cloud agnostic
○ Kubernetes first
○ Generic Platform for multiple workloads
● Supportable
○ Multi level Monitoring
○ Workload Analysis with Deep Learning
○ Global Operations Team
● Secure
○ Top notch security that is continuously updated
○ Leverage existing cloud services

5. ServiceNow GCP | AWS | Azure
SkySQL
operations
Jump server
Monitoring server
Job server
SkySQL
databases
Jump
server
Kubernetes cluster
Database
Database
Database
Commands
Metrics
SkySQL
portal
Web UI
Inventory
Workflows Jobs
MariaDB
SkyDBAs
Customer
applications
Customer
Admins
Ident proxy
Firewall

6. Cloud Provider
Typical Cloud topology
Regions
Zones
Zonal Level Services
Regional Level Services
Cloud Level Services

7. Region
Zone 1
Transactions
(replica 1)
InnoDB
Block Store
Zone 2
Transactions
(replica 2)
InnoDB
Zone 3
Transactions
(replica n)
InnoDB
MariaDB MaxScale Service
(any zone)
Block Store Block Store
Object Store

8. Region
Zone 1
Transactions
(replica 1)
InnoDB
Block Store
Zone 2 Zone 3
MariaDB MaxScale Service
(any zone)
Block Store Block Store
Object Store
Analytics
(replica 1)
Column
Store
Transactions
(replica 2)
InnoDB
Analytics
(replica 2)
Column
Store
Transactions
(replica n)
InnoDB
Analytics
(replica n)
Column
Store

9. Typical Deployment Flow
● I want
● Master Slave topology with 2 slaves
● Use “4CPU 15Gig RAM, 1TB Disk”
SkySQL UI
● Here you go
● Connect String

10. High Level Deployment Flow
● Store topology as a customer record in SNOW
● Kickoff deployment workflow
● Start Kubernetes cluster
● Create the deployment sets
● Launch management and product containers
● Operator controls the launch sequence of
product and then continuously monitors it
● Sanity Test the deployment
● Send confirmation email to customer

11. ● Leverage IaaS providers
○ HA, Encrypted Storage, Firewalls, Hardened OS images, continuous patching
● Leverage Backend workflow automation and UI
○ ServiceNow is a proven and stable platform for WFA
○ Secure front end UI is a SNOW application
● Additional steps on SkySQL
○ Whitelisting of IP addresses
○ LDAP and Google Auth support
● MariaDB operator is the overseer for any alerts/mishaps
○ Watches each container for anomalies
○ Takes corrective action to fix issues
● Insights using Deep Learning
○ Help customer predict and prepare for heavy loads
Security and Resiliency

13. Thank you!
Questions?