Hello Azure Community!
April has brought some important updates to Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server. These updates aim to make your postgres database more reliable and easier to use. Let’s dive into the changes we've made:
Highlights of the Month
- Enhanced Geo-Disaster recovery with read replicas (Generally Available)
- New PgBouncer Version 1.22.1 (Generally Available)
- Online Migration to PostgreSQL Flexible Server on Azure from Single Server (Public Preview)
- Extension Version Sync (Public Preview)
- Latest Extension Versions for Timescale DB, pgvector, PostGIS, tds_fdw, and pgaudit
- Case Study: Better Performance with Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server
1. Enhanced Geo-Disaster recovery with read replicas
Our latest update significantly enhances your ability to recover from geographical disruptions. We've focused on making disaster recovery as seamless and straightforward as possible with two key features: Virtual Endpoints and Promote to Primary Server operation.
- Virtual Endpoints: Maintain consistent application connectivity regardless of server role changes. The writer endpoint always links to the active primary server, while the reader endpoint connects to the available replicas. This means you don’t need to modify connection strings in your applications during a role swap, simplifying management and reducing potential errors.
- Promote to Primary Server: When a disruption occurs, this feature allows for a smooth and rapid promotion of your read replica to a primary server. This minimizes downtime and ensures continuous operation, even during unexpected regional disruptions.
For more detailed information about our enhanced read replica capabilities in Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server, including how to set up and manage these features, check out our resources: Read replicas - overview, Geo-replication, Promote read replicas, Virtual endpoints, Create and manage read replicas in the Azure portal, CLI or REST API.
2. New PG Bouncer Version 1.22.1 (Generally Available)
We are happy to announce General Availability of PG Bouncer version 1.22.1 with Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server. Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server offers PgBouncer as a built-in connection pooling solution. PgBouncer is a connection pooling feature that you can enable on a per-database-server basis. It's supported on General Purpose and Memory Optimized computing tiers in both public access and private access networks.
With this new release there are significant cumulative stability and performance fixes, support for enhanced configuration and commands, as well as added support for protocol-level named prepared statements feature. Details of all version changes and enhancements are in this open documentation and release announcement.
3. Online Migration to PostgreSQL Flexible Server on Azure from Single Server (Public Preview)
This month, we announced public preview of online mode of migration from Azure Database for PostgreSQL Single Server to Flexible Server migration with minimal downtime. Key Features:
- Seamless Setup: Initiate migration easily via the Azure portal or CLI.
- Continuous Operation: Migrate without stopping your application, ensuring zero downtime.
- Instant Cutover: Complete the migration process when synchronization is fully achieved, indicated by zero latency.
Benefits:
- Minimal Disruption: Ideal for production environments requiring constant availability.
- Simplicity: Straightforward migration process accessible through familiar tools.
Explore this feature for smooth and uninterrupted database migration, ensuring your operations continue without a hitch. Learn more Online Migration to PostgreSQL Flexible Server on Azure from Single Server.
4. Sync to the latest extension version (Public Preview)
This April, we’ve streamlined extension management in Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server with our new "Extension Version Sync" feature. : simply use the command `ALTER EXTENSION <extension-name> UPDATE` to upgrade to the latest available version. This process ensures that only the most stable and secure versions are in use, enhancing overall system security and stability.
Key Highlights:
- Simple Upgrades: Automatically update to the latest extension version with one command.
- Efficient Management: Maintain operational integrity with minimal user intervention, focusing on seamless upgrades.
- Enhanced Security: By allowing upgrades and keeping the extension ownership with the Azure superuser, allow to prevent any unauthorized changes that could lead to security vulnerabilities, data corruption, or server instability.
For more details, refer Upgrading PostgreSQL extensions.
5. Latest Extension Versions for TimescaleDB, pgvector, PostGIS, tds_fdw, and pgaudit
We're pleased to announce the latest versions of several key PostgreSQL extensions, now generally available on Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server. These updates bring a range of improvements aimed at enhancing performance and expanding functionality:
- TimescaleDB: Updated for better scalability and more efficient time-series data management.
- pgvector: Improved support for vector operations, crucial for machine learning and data analytics tasks.
- PostGIS: Advanced geospatial data processing capabilities to support more complex queries and spatial analysis.
- tds_fdw: Enhanced connectivity with external data sources through better foreign data wrappers.
- pgaudit: Stronger audit capabilities to help you maintain rigorous security and compliance standards.
Each of these extensions has been updated to ensure that your applications can leverage the most advanced capabilities and remain secure in an evolving digital landscape. To learn more, please refer Extension in Azure Database for PostgreSQL - Flexible Server.
6. Case Study: Better Performance with Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server
A recent study by Principled Technologies shows big benefits when moving to Azure Database for PostgreSQL - Flexible Server from the older Single Server version. Here's what they found:
- Faster Processing: Flexible Server processes orders 4.71 times faster, which means it handles transactions much quicker.
- More Actions at Once: It can do 2.85 times more tasks at the same time, making everything smoother for users.
- More Value for Money: It gives you almost four times more value for every dollar spent, without costing a lot more.
Flexible Server also has new features that use AI to help with searches and making smart decisions faster. With the older Single Server going away by March 28, 2025, it's a good idea to switch to Flexible Server for better features and value. Azure provides tools to help make moving your data easy and safe. To learn more, check out the full study on Azure’s documentation site. Read the full case study: Realize better value and performance from Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
Looking Back on April
As we close out April, we're excited about the new functionalities we've brought to your database management experience and how they simplify your operations. We are eager to see how you'll make use of these updates in your projects. Please share your thoughts and feedback with us at AskAzureDBforPostgreSQL@microsoft.com - It helps us understand what works and what needs tweaking.
Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for your continued support of Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server!
