MySQL : EBS snapshots for backing up a logical volume manager

It is possible to use EBS snapshots to backup a MySQL databases when the data is stored on a logical volume manager.   You have to be make sure all active/cached data is written to disk and no write happens to the data files during the snapshots.

Snapshotting a stripped volume:

Flush data to disk, lock tables, and freeze disk writes:
1. mysql -u root -p password 

(at the MYSQL prompt) 

A. FLUSH TABLES WITH READ LOCK;

B. SHOW MASTER STATUS; 

C. SYSTEM sudo xfs_freeze -f /data

Snapshot all EBS volumes that are part of the logical volume manager:

2. At the Linux prompt:

A. aws ec2 create-snapshot --volume-id vol-xxxxxxxx --description "Snapshot of /dev/sdf" 

B. aws ec2 create-snapshot --volume-id vol-xxxxxxxx --description "Snapshot of /dev/sdg"

Unfreeze disk writes and unlock tables
3. mysql -u root -ppassw-lab awslab

(at the MYSQL prompt) 

A. SYSTEM sudo xfs_freeze -u /data 

B. UNLOCK TABLES;

On premise mapped to AWS

A question that often comes up when companies are migrating Oracle workloads to AWS is: "How do my on premise IT architecture components map to AWS?".  Here are some of the most common components mapping from on premise to AWS:

Running databases on NAS

Interesting article on running databases on NAS:
http://www.snia.org/sites/default/education/tutorials/2008/fall/applications/StephenDaniel_Running_Database_Application_NAS.pdf

Also discusses, CIFS and NFS for databases.

Global data volumes

The global data volume at the end of 2009 has reached 800 EB according to http:www.genevaassociation.org. The Internet video will generate over 18 EB/month in 2013; global mobile data traffic will reach 2 EB/month by 2013 according to a report from CISCO (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns827/networking solutions sub solution.html).