How to Set Up a MySQL Database for Monitoring with Prometheus

In this article, we will explore the steps necessary to set up a MySQL database for monitoring using Prometheus. This includes creating a new user account, downloading and installing the Prometheus MySQL Exporter, configuring the database credentials, and setting up the exporter service.

Firstly, it's essential to limit the maximum number of connections for the user to avoid overwhelming the server with monitoring scrapes during heavy loads. To do this, use the command `WITH MAX_USER_CONNECTIONS 2`. This will set a cap on the number of connections that can be made by the user at any given time.

Next, if you have a Master-Slave database architecture, create the new user account only on the master servers to ensure seamless replication. Use the following commands to do this:

```sql

GRANT PROCESS, REPLICATION CLIENT, SELECT ON *.* TO 'FLUSH_PRIVILEGES';

CREATE USER IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPassword';

```

The user account should have the necessary grants, including PROCESS, SELECT, and REPLICATION_CLIENT.

To confirm that the installation was successful, use the command `mysqld_exporter -version`. This will display the version of the exporter software.

Next, you need to download and install the Prometheus MySQL Exporter. You can do this by visiting the releases page for the exporter and downloading the latest version. Once downloaded, extract the files and move them to the `/usr/local/bin` directory using the command `sudo mv mysqld_exporter-*.linux-amd64/mysqld_exporter /usr/local/bin/`.

Finally, create a system user and group for Prometheus using the following commands:

```bash

sudo groupadd -system prometheus

sudo useradd -s /sbin/nologin -system -g prometheus prometheus

```

This will allow you to manage the exporter service as a separate user. By following these steps, you can set up your MySQL database for monitoring using Prometheus and enjoy real-time insights into your database performance.

Mysqld exporter