tHOUGHTS & iDEAS

Last couple of week I was looking for an easier approch to manage the Databases created on Amazon RDS instances. I had to run through a tedious set of steps in carrying out routine stuff like introducing new updates, taking daily backups and moving it to an Amazon S3 bucket, etc… Before getting into touch with MySQL Workbench had to run through several intermediate hops (Connect to one of the EC2 instance via SSH and connect to the RDS instance from there, ;-( ) even to run a small query on the tables.

Let me eleborate the step I followed in setting up the connect with the DB created on a Amazon RDS instance.

Step 1: Launch MySQL Workbench

Launch MySQL Workbench and select New Server Instance found under Server Administration section form the Welcome screen as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: MySQl Workbench Welcome Screen

Step 2: Specify Host Machine of the Database server

Next form the Create New Server Instance Profile wizard, provide the Public DNS of the Amazon EC2 instance under Remote Host as shown in Figure 2 (this EC2 instance will be as the intermediate point to access DB that resides inside the Amazon RDS instance). To find the Public DNS specific to the EC2 instance can be done as illustrated in Figure 3. Click Next button to procced.

Figure 2: Specify Host Machine of the Database screen

Figure 3: Amazon EC2 admin console screen

Step 3: Creating the DB connection

Fill in the values as described below which illustrated in Figure 4.

• Connection Name – Provide a name to identify your connection
• Connection Method – Select Standard TCP/IP over SSH from the drop down list instead of Standard(TCP/IP). Then on the appearing two tabbed pane, fill the following values found under Parameters tab.
  • SSH Hostname – Provide the Public DNS of the Amazon EC2 instace (refer Figure 3) which will be used as the intermediate server instance used to create the connection with the DB instance.
  • SSH Username – Provide the user of the Amazon EC2 instance (refer Figure 3) which will be used as the intermediate server instance used to create the connection with the DB instance.
  • SSH Key File – Provide the Private Key (xxx.pem) used to connect Amazon EC2 instace via SSH
  • MySQL Hostname – Provide the Endpoint of the DB instance created in Amazon RDS(refer Figure 5).
  • Username – Provide the Master Username of the DB instance created in Amazon RDS(refer Figure 5).
  • Password – Click on Store in Keychain.. button and type the password provided while creating the DB instance in Amazon RDS.

Click Next button to procced.

Figure 4: Database Connection screen

Figure 5: Amazon RDS DB Instance

Step 4: Testing the Database Connection

In this step it validates the parameters provided in the previous step and upon success it returns Database connection tested successfully(refer Figure 6). Upon this message the Next button get activate to procceds to Management and OS.

Figure 6: Testing the Database Connection

Step 5: Management and OS

Select SSH login based management option and select the appropriate parameters for Operating System, MySQL Installation Type (refer Figure 7).

Figure 7: Specify remote management type and target operating system

Step 6: Setting up remote SSH Configuration

Provide the following parameters

• Host Name – Provide the Public DNS of the Amazon EC2 instace (refer Figure 3) which will be used as the intermediate server instance used to create the connection with the DB instance.
• User Name – Provide the user of the Amazon EC2 instance (refer Figure 3) which will be used as the intermediate server instance used to create the connection with the DB instance.
• Select Authenticate Using SSH Key and provide the SSH Private Key Path – Provide the Private Key (xxx.pem) used to connect Amazon EC2 instace via SSH

Figure 8: Remote SSH Configuration

Step 7: Test Host Machine Settings

In this step it validates the parameters provided in the previous step and upon success it returns Testing host machine setting is done(refer Figure 9). Upon this message the Next button get activate and clicking Next buttin it popup Review Settings dialog box (refer Figure 10).

Figure 9: Test Host Machine Settings

Figure 10: Review Settings

Step 8: Creating the Instance Profile

Provide a name for the Profile got created.

Figure 11: Creating the Instance Profile

Step 9: Done

Figure 12: Workbench Home screen with the new profile