MySQL Cluster vs Galera Cluster vs Percona XtraDB Cluster: A Comparison

When it comes to database clustering solutions, MySQL Cluster, Galera Cluster, and Percona XtraDB Cluster are three popular options that provide high availability, fault tolerance, and scalability for MySQL databases. In this article, we will compare these three clustering solutions, discuss their key features, and provide code examples to demonstrate how they can be implemented.

MySQL Cluster

MySQL Cluster is a distributed, shared-nothing database clustering solution that allows you to distribute data across multiple nodes in a cluster. It uses a multi-master replication model and provides automatic sharding for data distribution. MySQL Cluster is well-suited for applications that require high availability and low latency.

Code Example:

CREATE DATABASE my_cluster;
USE my_cluster;

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(50)
) ENGINE=NDBCLUSTER;

Galera Cluster

Galera Cluster is a synchronous multi-master clustering solution that is built on top of the MariaDB and MySQL databases. It uses the Galera replication plugin to provide synchronous replication between nodes in the cluster. Galera Cluster is known for its simplicity and ease of use.

Code Example:

CREATE DATABASE my_galera_cluster;
USE my_galera_cluster;

CREATE TABLE products (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(50),
    price DECIMAL(10,2)
) ENGINE=InnoDB;

Percona XtraDB Cluster

Percona XtraDB Cluster is an open-source clustering solution that is based on the Percona Server for MySQL. It uses the Percona XtraBackup tool for online backups and supports multi-master replication. Percona XtraDB Cluster is known for its high performance and scalability.

Code Example:

CREATE DATABASE my_percona_cluster;
USE my_percona_cluster;

CREATE TABLE orders (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    product_id INT,
    quantity INT
) ENGINE=InnoDB;

Comparison

Feature MySQL Cluster Galera Cluster Percona XtraDB Cluster
Replication Method Multi-Master Synchronous Multi-Master
Data Distribution Automatic Sharding None None
Backup Tool ndb_mgm mysqldump Percona XtraBackup
Performance Moderate High High
Scalability Moderate High High
Ease of Use Moderate High High

Flowchart

flowchart TD
    Start --> MySQL_Cluster
    MySQL_Cluster --> Galera_Cluster
    MySQL_Cluster --> Percona_XtraDB_Cluster

Class Diagram

classDiagram
    class Node {
        - id: int
        - address: string
        + start()
        + stop()
        + restart()
    }

    class Cluster {
        - id: int
        - nodes: Node[]
        + addNode()
        + removeNode()
        + start()
        + stop()
        + restart()
    }

In conclusion, MySQL Cluster, Galera Cluster, and Percona XtraDB Cluster are all powerful clustering solutions that offer different features and benefits. The best choice for your application will depend on your specific requirements for high availability, fault tolerance, and scalability. It is recommended to evaluate each cluster solution based on your project's needs before making a decision on which one to use.