How to Install MySQL Using Percona on Kubernetes

This article guides you through the installation of Percona XtraDB Cluster (PXC), a robust and scalable SQL database solution, on a Kubernetes (K8s) environment. Percona enhances MySQL's capabilities by providing high availability, more consistent backups, enhanced performance, and better scalability.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need a functioning Kubernetes cluster with kubectl installed and configured. Helm package manager installed on your local machine. This setup is essential for managing the resources and deploying the Percona database using the steps described below.

Setting Up the Environment

Note: Kubernetes namespaces allow for the isolation of cluster resources. We will deploy Percona in its own namespace to maintain a tidy environment and facilitate resource management.

Step 1: Add the Percona Helm Repository

Helm charts simplify the deployment and management of applications on Kubernetes. Start by adding the Percona Helm repository:

helm repo add percona https://percona.github.io/percona-helm-charts/

This command adds the Percona repository, which contains the Helm charts necessary for deploying Percona XtraDB Cluster.

Step 2: Update the Helm Repository

To ensure you have the latest Helm charts and updates, refresh your repository:

helm repo update

This syncs your Helm repository with the remote Percona charts, ensuring the latest versions are ready for installation.

Configuration

Prepare the `values.yaml` File

To tailor the Percona deployment to your needs, configure your settings in a values.yaml file. This file will dictate the cluster configuration, resource allocation, and more. Here’s an example configuration:

allowUnsafeConfigurations: true

sharding:
  enabled: false

backup:
  enabled: true

pxc:
  size: 1
  volumeSpec:
    pvc:
      resources:
        requests:
          storage: 2Gi

haproxy:
  enabled: true
  size: 1
  resources:
    requests:
      memory: 100Mi

proxysql:
  size: 1

This configuration sets up a single-node Percona cluster with HAProxy and ProxySQL for load balancing and routing. Backups are enabled, ensuring data durability and recovery capabilities.

Installation

Create a Namespace for Percona

Organize your deployment by creating a namespace specifically for Percona:

kubectl create namespace percona

Install Percona Operator and Database

Deploy the Percona Operator, which manages the lifecycle of the Percona cluster:

helm install percona-op percona/pxc-operator --namespace percona

Next, deploy the Percona database cluster using the previously prepared values.yaml file:

helm install percona-db percona/pxc-db --values values.yaml --namespace percona

These commands deploy the Percona Operator and the Percona database itself, configuring them according to the specifications in your values.yaml file.

Uninstalling Percona

Should you need to remove the Percona cluster, you can do so cleanly using the following commands:

NS="percona"

kubectl delete pxc percona-db-pxc-db -n $NS

helm delete percona-db --namespace $NS
helm delete percona-op --namespace $NS

kubectl delete namespace $NS

These commands will delete the Percona database and operator, as well as the namespace, effectively cleaning up all resources associated with the installation.

Wrap Up

After installation, verify the status of the Percona pods:

kubectl get pods -n percona

Expect output showing that your Percona cluster pods are running correctly:

Expected output

NAME                                     READY   STATUS    RESTARTS   AGE
percona-db-pxc-db-0                      1/1     Running   0          10m
percona-db-pxc-haproxy-0                 1/1     Running   0          10m
percona-db-pxc-proxysql-0                1/1     Running   0          10m

By following these steps, you have successfully deployed a Percona XtraDB Cluster on your Kubernetes environment, equipped with high availability and automatic backups, ready to handle your application’s data needs.