Overview

Function

The data replication capabilities supported by GaussDB are as follows:

Data is periodically synchronized to heterogeneous databases using a data migration tool. Real-time data replication is not supported. Therefore, the requirements for real-time data synchronization to heterogeneous databases are not satisfied.

GaussDB provides the logical decoding function to generate logical logs by decoding Xlogs. A target database parses logical logs to replicate data in real time. For details, see Figure 1. Logical replication reduces the restrictions on target databases, allowing for data synchronization between heterogeneous databases and homogeneous databases with different forms. It allows data to be read and written during data synchronization on a target database, reducing the data synchronization latency.

Figure 1 Logical replication

Logical replication consists of logical decoding and data replication. Logical decoding outputs logical logs by transaction. The database service or middleware parses the logical logs to implement data replication. Currently, GaussDB supports only logical decoding. Therefore, this section involves only logical decoding.

Logical decoding provides basic transaction decoding capabilities for logical replication. GaussDB uses SQL functions for logical decoding. This method features easy function calling, requires no tools to obtain logical logs, and provides specific interfaces for interconnecting with external replay tools, saving the need of additional adaptation.

Precautions

• DDL statement decoding is not supported. When a specific DDL statement (for example, to truncate an ordinary table or exchange a partitioned table) is executed, decoded data may be lost.
• Decoding for column-store data and data page replication is not supported.
• After a DDL statement (for example, ALTER TABLE) is executed, the physical logs that are not decoded before the DDL statement execution may be lost.
• The size of a single tuple cannot exceed 1 GB, and decoded data may be larger than inserted data. Therefore, it is recommended that the size of a single tuple be less than or equal to 500 MB.
• GaussDB supports the following data types for decoding: INTEGER, BIGINT, SMALLINT, TINYINT, SERIAL, SMALLSERIAL, BIGSERIAL, FLOAT, DOUBLE PRECISION, DATE, TIME[WITHOUT TIME ZONE], TIMESTAMP[WITHOUT TIME ZONE], CHAR(n), VARCHAR(n), and TEXT.
• If the SSL connection is required, ensure that the GUC parameter ssl is set to on.
• The logical replication slot name must contain fewer than 64 characters and contain only one or more types of the following characters: lowercase letters, digits, and underscores (_).
• After the database where a logical replication slot resides is deleted, the replication slot becomes unavailable and needs to be manually deleted.
• To decode multiple databases, you need to create a stream replication slot in each database and start decoding. Logs need to be scanned for decoding of each database.
• Forcible switchover is not supported. After forcible switchover, you need to export all data again.
• To perform decoding on the standby node, set the GUC parameter enable_slot_log to on on the corresponding host.
• During decoding on the standby node, the decoded data may increase during switchover and failover, which needs to be manually filtered out. When the quorum protocol is used, switchover and failover should be performed on the standby node that is to be promoted to primary, and logs must be synchronized from the primary node to the standby node.
• The same replication slot for decoding cannot be used between the primary node and standby node or between different standby nodes at the same time. Otherwise, data inconsistency occurs.
• Replication slots can only be created or deleted on hosts.
• After the database is restarted due to a fault or the logical replication process is restarted, duplicate decoded data may exist. You need to filter out the duplicate data.
• If the computer kernel is faulty, garbled characters may be displayed during decoding, which need to be manually or automatically filtered out.
• Currently, the logical decoding on the standby node does not support enabling the ultimate RTO.
• Ensure that the long transaction is not started during the creation of the logical replication slot. If the long transaction is started, the creation of the logical replication slot will be blocked.
• Interval partitioned tables cannot be replicated.
• Global temporary tables are not supported.
• After a DDL statement is executed in a transaction, the DDL statement and subsequent statements are not decoded.
• Do not perform operations on the replication slot on other nodes when the logical replication slot is in use. To delete a replication slot, stop decoding in the replication slot first.
• To parse the UPDATE and DELETE statements of an Astore table, you need to configure the REPLICA IDENITY attribute for the table. If the table does not have a primary key, set the REPLICA IDENITY attribute to FULL. For details, see ▪REPLICA IDENTITY { DEFA....
• Do not perform operations on the replication slot on other nodes when the logical replication slot is in use. To delete a replication slot, stop decoding in the replication slot first.
• Considering that the target database may require the system status information of the source database, logical decoding automatically filters only logical logs of system catalogs whose OIDs are less than 16384 in pg_catalog and pg_toast schemas. If the target database does not need to copy the content of other related system catalogs, the related system catalogs need to be filtered during logical log replay.
• When logical replication is enabled, if you need to create a primary key index that contains system columns, you must set the REPLICA IDENTITY attribute of the table to FULL or use USING INDEX to specify a unique, non-local, non-deferrable index that does not contain system columns and contains only columns marked NOT NULL.

Performance

If pg_logical_slot_peek_changes and pg_replication_slot_advance are used, the decoding performance is 30% to 50% lower than that when pg_logical_slot_get_changes is used.