Create an RDS MySQL Instance

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Create an RDS MySQL Instance

In this Post we will create a new RDS MYSQL Database, and then in a later post we will setup an IAM user for Visual Studio so we can create AWS Lambda’s that can read and write data to and from the database.

Login to AWS Portal

If you don’t already have an AWS account you can create one, you will need a credit card but most services have a free tier. If you do go ahead and login.

AWS Login

Once you have keyed in your user credentials, go-ahead and enter your password.

AWS Portal Login Password

Creating the RDS MySQL Database

From the top menu, select the Services link, and then either select the RDS service link in the ‘Recently Visited’ section, or key in the ‘Search Bar’ RDS then press enter, to find the RDS link. Once the RDS link is found pick the link to access the RDS service.

RDS Service Link

Within the RDS Service page, select the Create Database button, to start the database creation process.

Create Database Button

While creating the database use the following options

Database Creation Method

Option – Standard Create

Engine Options

This database will be a MySQL database at Version 8.0.21

Option – Engine Options

Templates

This one is important, make sure you set the template option to Free Tier.

Option – Templates

Settings

These settings are important to take note of since these will allow you to connect tot he database later on.

Option – Settings

DB Instance Class

There are no changes to be made here.

Option – DB Instance Class

Storage

The default settings are a good start, and can be left as is unless you want to customize it to fit your needs.

Option – Storage

Connectivity

If you want to access the Database from your home PC you must set the option Public Access to Yes. The rest of the options can be left as the default options unless you want to customize it for your specific needs.

Option – Connectivity

Database Authentication

To allow us to connect from our home PC we will leave this option set to Password Authentication..

Option – Database Authentication

Additional Configuration

You don’t have to supply an Initial Database Name, but I like to have my initial database created for me. We will also turn on the three Log Export options, and we will also enable the Delete Protection.

Option – Additional Configuration

Finally Select the Create Database button, to create the database. This will take about 5 minutes so have some patients.

Create Database Button

VPC Inbound Rules

We have one last step to perform to allow us to access the database from our home PC’s, this is to add additional VPC Inbound Rules.

To do this first we must wait until the Status changes to Available before we do anything else.

New Database Status – Available

Once it becomes available select the Database Identifier link. Then within the Connectivity & Security tab, select the VPC Security Groups link.

Database Connectivity and Security

Within the ‘Security Groups’, select the Inbound Rules tab and then select the Edit Inbound Rules button.

Edit Inbound Rules

Add the following two TCP Inbound rules, then select Save Rules.

TCP Inbound Rules

Creating the Database Connection

When we created the database we created a user id admin with a password that we wrote down. We also have an Endpoint URL and Port which can be found in the Connectivity & Security tab.

Database Connection URL and Port

With this information and using your favorite MySQL Database editor (Heidi, MySQL Workbench or other), create a new connection. I’m using Heidi here is a snap shot of my connection.

Database Connection

When we connect with this connection we should be able to see our database.

Connected Database Editor