MySQL & Aurora Performance, Architecture & Migration
Wolk Inc designs, optimises, and modernises MySQL database systems: InnoDB tuning, GTID replication, ProxySQL read splitting, Aurora MySQL migration, query optimisation, and MySQL 8.0 upgrade management. From slow query elimination to zero-downtime version upgrades.
ProxySQL
Read/Write Splitting
GTID
Replication Mode
Aurora
Managed HA Option
5.7 → 8.0
Version Upgrade Path
MySQL Consulting Deliverables
Schema Design & InnoDB Optimisation
MySQL schema design: InnoDB storage engine configuration, data type selection, primary key strategy (auto-increment vs. UUID — UUIDs fragmentation implications for InnoDB B-tree), index design (covering indexes, composite index column ordering, prefix indexes for VARCHAR), and foreign key constraint management. InnoDB buffer pool sizing, innodb_io_capacity tuning, and redo log configuration for write-heavy workloads.
Replication & High Availability
MySQL Group Replication or GTID-based replication topology design: single-primary and multi-primary configurations, semi-synchronous replication for durability, and ProxySQL for transparent read/write splitting. Orchestrator or MySQL Router for automatic failover. Amazon Aurora MySQL migration for managed HA with Aurora Global Database for cross-region read scaling and disaster recovery.
Query Optimisation & Slow Query Analysis
Slow query log analysis with pt-query-digest for systematic identification of high-impact queries. EXPLAIN and EXPLAIN FORMAT=JSON analysis for query plan investigation. Index usage analysis with performance_schema index statistics, unused index detection, and covering index opportunities. Query rewrite for N+1 query patterns, missing JOIN conditions, and subquery vs. JOIN decisions.
Migration & Aurora Modernisation
MySQL version upgrades (5.7 → 8.0) with pre-migration compatibility checks using MySQL Shell upgrade checker. Migration to Amazon Aurora MySQL using AWS DMS for near-zero-downtime cutovers. MySQL to PostgreSQL migration using pgloader or AWS Schema Conversion Tool for applications moving off MySQL to PostgreSQL for advanced feature requirements (JSONB, full-text search, extensions).
Slow Queries Eliminated. Zero-Downtime Upgrades.
MySQL Consulting Questions
When should we migrate from self-managed MySQL to Amazon Aurora MySQL?▾
Aurora MySQL is a strong choice when: you need automated failover in under 30 seconds without managing Orchestrator or MHA; you want read scaling via Aurora read replicas without setting up and maintaining replication manually; your team lacks dedicated DBA capacity for ongoing MySQL operations; or you need global database capabilities for multi-region DR. The main trade-offs are higher cost per GB than self-managed RDS and reduced ability to tune low-level InnoDB parameters. For most production MySQL workloads on AWS, Aurora MySQL provides a better total cost of ownership once operational overhead is factored in.
What are the most impactful MySQL performance optimisation steps?▾
In order of typical impact: (1) InnoDB buffer pool sizing — set innodb_buffer_pool_size to 70–80% of available RAM so the working set fits in memory; (2) Index analysis — add missing indexes identified by slow query log and remove unused indexes causing write overhead; (3) Query rewrite — eliminate N+1 query patterns, add covering indexes for high-frequency SELECT queries; (4) Replication read splitting — route read queries to replicas to reduce primary load; (5) Connection pooling with ProxySQL — prevent connection exhaustion under high concurrency. Wolk Inc starts every engagement with slow query log analysis before any schema changes.
What is the difference between MySQL GTID replication and traditional binary log replication?▾
Global Transaction Identifiers (GTIDs) assign a unique identifier to every transaction committed on the primary. GTID replication tracks position by transaction identifier rather than binary log file and offset, making failover and replica re-pointing significantly simpler — a new primary can be promoted and replicas re-pointed without manual log position calculation. GTID replication also prevents duplicate transaction application and makes it easier to detect replication gaps. Wolk Inc recommends GTID mode for all new MySQL replication setups and migrates existing binary log replication to GTID as part of upgrade engagements.
How does Wolk Inc approach a MySQL 5.7 to 8.0 upgrade?▾
MySQL 8.0 introduces significant changes: reserved keywords (rank, row, groups — common column names that become syntax errors), utf8mb4 as the default character set, and changes to authentication (caching_sha2_password default). Wolk Inc runs the MySQL Shell upgrade checker utility against your current instance to produce a detailed compatibility report. Application code is tested against MySQL 8.0 in a staging environment before production cutover. The upgrade itself is performed as a replica promotion: upgrade a replica to 8.0, validate, then promote it as the new primary — minimising cutover downtime.
When should we consider migrating from MySQL to PostgreSQL?▾
MySQL to PostgreSQL migration is worth evaluating when: you need native JSONB with GIN indexing for document-style queries (MySQL JSON support is less mature); you require advanced full-text search, geospatial queries (PostGIS), or custom extensions; you need true serialisable transactions without workarounds; or you want to consolidate on a single database technology stack that also serves analytical workloads. Migration complexity depends heavily on application SQL — MySQL-specific functions, stored procedures, and implicit type conversions require manual translation. Wolk Inc provides a migration feasibility assessment before committing to a full migration engagement.