Amazon RDS for Aurora vs MariaDB: What are the differences?
Amazon RDS for Aurora and MariaDB are two popular database options for website development. Here are the key differences that set them apart.
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Performance and Scalability: Amazon RDS for Aurora is designed to deliver fast performance, being up to five times faster than standard MySQL databases. It achieves this through a distributed storage system and an optimized query execution engine. On the other hand, MariaDB offers good performance as well, but it may not match the speed and scalability provided by Aurora.
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High Availability and Fault Tolerance: Amazon RDS for Aurora offers automatic database backups and replication across multiple Availability Zones to ensure high availability and fault tolerance. In the event of a failure, the database can automatically failover to a replica to minimize downtime. MariaDB also provides options for replication and backups, but the fault tolerance capabilities may not be as robust as those offered by Aurora.
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Compatibility: Amazon RDS for Aurora is designed to be compatible with MySQL, which means that existing MySQL applications and tools can be seamlessly migrated to Aurora. MariaDB, on the other hand, is a fork of MySQL and may have some differences in functionality and syntax. This means that migrating from MySQL to MariaDB or vice versa may require some adjustments to the code.
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Pricing: Pricing for Amazon RDS for Aurora and MariaDB can differ. Amazon RDS for Aurora has its own pricing structure, which includes different options for database instance sizes and storage. MariaDB, on the other hand, is an open-source database and does not have any additional licensing costs. However, there may be costs associated with running MariaDB on cloud hosting providers.
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Backup and Restore: Amazon RDS for Aurora offers automated backups and point-in-time recovery, allowing you to easily restore your database to a specific point in time. It also provides the option for continuous backups that allow you to recover your database with minimal data loss. MariaDB also supports backups and restores, but the process may require more manual intervention and configuration.
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Community and Support: Amazon RDS for Aurora is a managed service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which means that you can rely on AWS for technical support and assistance. MariaDB, being an open-source database, has a strong community of users and developers who provide support. However, the level of support may vary compared to a managed service like Aurora.
In summary, Amazon RDS for Aurora offers superior performance, high availability, and compatibility with MySQL, while MariaDB provides a more cost-effective option and has a strong open-source community support.