MariaDB Temporal Database Backups: Mastering the Art of Time Travel

Temporal Database: This is a type of database that tracks changes to data over time. In MariaDB, temporal data is typically stored using versioned tables. These tables allow you to see how the data has changed at any point in time.

Backup Methods: There are two main tools for backing up MariaDB databases:

• mariadb-backup: This is a tool specifically designed for backing up MariaDB databases. It offers several advantages over mysqldump for temporal databases:

  • Full Backups: It can create a complete backup of the database, including all historical data.
  • Incremental Backups: It can create backups that only capture changes since the last full backup, saving storage space.
  • Hot Online Backups: Backups can be performed with minimal impact on the running database.

Backing Up with mariadb-backup: Here's a simplified approach:

1. Use the --backup option: This tells mariadb-backup to perform a backup.
2. Use the --target-dir option: This specifies the directory where the backup files will be stored.
3. For full backups with history: No additional options are needed.
4. For incremental backups: Use additional options to specify the previous backup to use as a reference.

mariadb-backup --user=your_username --password=your_password --backup --target-dir=/path/to/backups

This command uses mariadb-backup to create a full backup of the database. Replace the following:

• /path/to/backups: The directory where you want to store the backup files.
• your_password: Your MariaDB password.
• your_username: Your MariaDB username with access privileges.

Incremental Backup with mariadb-backup (assuming a previous full backup exists):

mariadb-backup --user=your_username --password=your_password --backup --target-dir=/path/to/backups --incremental-base=/path/to/full_backup_dir

This command performs an incremental backup, capturing only changes since the last full backup. Replace placeholders similar to the previous example, and additionally:

• /path/to/full_backup_dir: The directory where the previous full backup is stored.

• Drawbacks:
  • May require additional configuration for optimal performance with temporal data.
  • Restoration process might be more complex compared to mariadb-backup.
• Benefits:
  • Hot backups with minimal downtime.
  • Open-source and widely used.
• Description: xtrabackup is a popular open-source tool for hot backups of InnoDB tables used in MariaDB. It creates consistent backups without interrupting database operations. While not specifically designed for temporal data, it can capture the current state of the database, including historical information stored in versioned tables.

Docker MariaDB/MySQL dump:

• Drawbacks:
  • Requires running commands within the Docker container.
  • May not capture historical data from temporal tables before MariaDB 10.11 (similar to the standalone mysqldump).
• Benefits:
  • Straightforward if you're already using Docker.
  • Leverages the familiar mysqldump syntax.
• Description: If you're using MariaDB within Docker containers, you can leverage Docker commands to create a dump of the database. This approach utilizes the familiar mysqldump tool but within the container environment.

Replication with a Development Copy:

• Drawbacks:
  • Requires additional server resources for the development copy.
  • Might introduce latency between production and development environments.
• Benefits:
  • Creates a readily available copy for development or testing.
  • Can be automated for regular synchronization.
• Description: This method involves setting up a replica of your production database on a separate server for development purposes. You can then periodically synchronize the development database with the production one. While not strictly a backup method, it provides a recent copy of the data for disaster recovery or testing scenarios.

Choosing the right method depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here's a quick comparison:

• For a readily available development copy: Replication with a development server offers additional functionality but requires managing separate server resources.
• For hot backups with existing Docker integration: Percona xtrabackup is a good option, but might require some configuration for optimal temporal data handling.
• For ease of use and guaranteed capture of historical data: mariadb-backup is a strong choice, especially with MariaDB 10.11 or later.