How to Monitor MySQL_MariaDB Databases using Netdata on CentOS 8?

In today's data-driven world, monitoring the performance and health of databases is crucial for ensuring the smooth operation of applications and the overall efficiency of your infrastructure. When it comes to monitoring MySQL or MariaDB databases on CentOS 8, Netdata emerges as a powerful and user-friendly tool. Netdata provides real-time insights into various metrics and performance indicators, allowing you to proactively identify bottlenecks, optimize resource utilization, and ensure the reliability of your database environment.

In this blog post, we will explore how to set up and configure Netdata to monitor MySQL/MariaDB databases on CentOS 8. We will walk you through the installation process, demonstrate the integration with your database, and showcase the key metrics and visualizations provided by Netdata. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively monitor and manage your MySQL/MariaDB databases using Netdata on CentOS 8.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into setting up Netdata and monitoring your MySQL/MariaDB databases on CentOS 8, there are a few prerequisites you need to ensure −

• CentOS 8 − Ensure that you have a CentOS 8 server up and running, accessible via SSH.

• MySQL/MariaDB − Have a working MySQL or MariaDB database installation on your CentOS 8 server. Make sure it's configured correctly and accessible.

• Netdata − Install Netdata on your CentOS 8 server. To do this, follow these steps:

• Connect to your CentOS 8 server via SSH.

• Run the following commands to add the Netdata repository and install Netdata −

sudo bash -c 'cat << EOF > /etc/yum.repos.d/netdata.repo
[netdata]
name=netdata
baseurl=https://packagecloud.io/netdata/netdata/el/8/\$basearch
gpgcheck=0
enabled=1
EOF'

sudo dnf install -y netdata

• Start and enable Netdata −

sudo systemctl start netdata
sudo systemctl enable netdata

Configuring Netdata for Database Monitoring

Now that Netdata is installed on your CentOS 8 server, it's time to configure it to monitor your MySQL/MariaDB databases. Netdata achieves this through modules that provide specific monitoring capabilities. In this section, we will focus on configuring the Netdata MySQL module.

Install the Netdata MySQL module

To monitor MySQL/MariaDB databases, we need to install the Netdata MySQL module. Follow these steps −

• Access your CentOS 8 server via SSH.

• Run the following command to install the MySQL module −

sudo yum install -y python3-pip
sudo pip3 install mysql-connector-python

Integrate Netdata with MySQL/MariaDB

Next, we need to configure Netdata to connect with your MySQL/MariaDB server. Here's how −

• Edit the Netdata configuration file −

sudo nano /etc/netdata/python.d/mysql.conf

• Uncomment the [mysql] section and configure the connection details. Provide the appropriate values for host, port, user, and password based on your MySQL/MariaDB setup.

• Save the changes and exit the editor.

Restart Netdata

To apply the configuration changes, restart the Netdata service −

sudo systemctl restart netdata

With the Netdata MySQL module installed and configured, Netdata will start monitoring your MySQL/MariaDB databases and collecting the necessary data.

Monitoring MySQL/MariaDB Databases with Netdata

Netdata provides real-time insights into various metrics and performance indicators, enabling you to proactively identify bottlenecks, optimize resource utilization, and ensure the reliability of your database environment.

Accessing the Netdata Dashboard

To access the Netdata dashboard, open a web browser and enter the IP address or hostname of your CentOS 8 server, followed by :19999. For example, if your server's IP address is 192.168.0.100, enter http://192.168.0.100:19999 in the browser's address bar. You will be greeted with a visually appealing and intuitive interface.

Navigating the MySQL Module

Once you access the Netdata dashboard, navigate to the MySQL module by clicking on the "MySQL" option in the sidebar. Here, you'll find a wealth of information and visualizations related to your MySQL/MariaDB databases.

Monitoring Key Metrics

Netdata offers real-time monitoring of important MySQL/MariaDB metrics, enabling you to keep a close eye on your database's performance. Here are some key metrics you can monitor:

• Queries per second − Monitor the rate of incoming queries to identify query load variations that could impact performance. To access this metric, navigate to the "Query metrics" section in the MySQL module.

• Connections − Track the number of active connections to your database, helping you identify potential connection-related issues. You can find this metric under the "Connection metrics" section.

• InnoDB buffer pool − Analyze the usage of the InnoDB buffer pool to optimize memory allocation and improve query performance. Check the "InnoDB metrics" section for insights into buffer pool utilization.

• CPU and memory usage − Keep an eye on the CPU and memory resources utilized by your MySQL/MariaDB database. Netdata provides visualizations that help you identify any abnormal resource usage patterns.

Visualizations and Charts

Netdata presents metrics in visually appealing charts and graphs, allowing you to easily spot trends and anomalies. The charts are highly customizable, giving you the flexibility to focus on specific metrics or time periods based on your monitoring needs.

Here's an example of how to monitor the number of queries per second using Netdata's MySQL module −

# Queries per second
SELECT variable_value AS queries_per_second
FROM information_schema.global_status
WHERE variable_name = 'Queries';

By monitoring these metrics and utilizing the visualizations provided by Netdata, you can gain valuable insights into the performance and health of your MySQL/MariaDB databases, enabling you to optimize their configuration, troubleshoot issues, and ensure their efficient operation.

Customizing and Extending Database Monitoring

Netdata offers a range of customization options that allow you to tailor the monitoring experience according to your specific needs. In this section, we will explore how you can customize and extend your MySQL/MariaDB database monitoring with Netdata on CentOS 8.

Customizing the Netdata Configuration

Netdata allows you to customize various aspects of its configuration to suit your preferences. You can modify settings such as data collection frequency, visualization options, and alarm thresholds. The configuration file for Netdata can be found at /etc/netdata/netdata.conf.

To customize the configuration, open the file using a text editor −

sudo nano /etc/netdata/netdata.conf

Make the desired changes to the configuration options and save the file. Then, restart the Netdata service for the changes to take effect −

sudo systemctl restart netdata

Configuring Alerts and Notifications

Netdata provides a flexible alerting system that allows you to define alarms based on specific metrics and thresholds. These alarms can notify you via various methods, such as email or Slack, when certain conditions are met.

To configure alerts, you can edit the alarm configuration file −

sudo nano /etc/netdata/health.d/alarm-notify.conf

Within this file, you can define rules for triggering alarms and specify the actions to be taken when an alarm is triggered.

Advanced Monitoring Techniques

Netdata offers advanced monitoring techniques that go beyond the basic metrics. You can explore additional modules and plugins to enhance your database monitoring capabilities. For example, the Netdata plugins repository provides a wide range of third-party plugins that can be integrated with Netdata to monitor specific aspects of your MySQL/MariaDB databases.

To discover and install plugins, you can visit the Netdata community forums and the plugins repository available on GitHub.

Conclusion

Monitoring your MySQL/MariaDB databases is crucial for ensuring optimal performance, identifying bottlenecks, and maintaining the reliability of your database environment. With Netdata, you have a powerful tool at your disposal to monitor and gain real-time insights into the performance of your databases.

In this tutorial, we walked you through the process of setting up Netdata on CentOS 8, configuring it to monitor MySQL/MariaDB, and exploring key metrics and visualizations. By leveraging Netdata's customization options and advanced monitoring techniques, you can fine-tune your monitoring experience and ensure the efficient operation of your MySQL/MariaDB databases.