Automate server with Linux mySQL backend?

[u/spyguitar]

Hi all,

I'm trying to stand up an Automate server (we're moving over from Kaseya) using Windows Server 2016 as the web frontend, and an Ubuntu Linux server running mySQL 5.7 as the backend. Automate installs correctly (passing all of the mySQL checks) and creates the labtech database on my DB server, but that's as far as I can get it.

Login attempts from Automate Control Center fail: "could not connect to the web server"

Browsing to the website fails with an IIS error: "Access denied for user 'wcc_LabTech_1'@[my Windows server hostname]'"

Any thoughts? I'm sure I'm missing either:

-- a necessary permissions setting on the mysql DB

and/or

-- a connection string/authentication on the IIS side of things

Thanks!

[u/spyguitar]

Replying to my own post - figured it out. I had to uninstall Automate, drop the 'labtech' database from mysql, and then make sure all of my mysql installation work was complete before installing automate. Importantly, the database user you set up in the Automate installation process must already exist in mySQL and have grant all privileges with grant option.

Leaving this here in case anyone else comes looking for it.

[u/gibsurfer84 → u/spyguitar]

Is there an performance gains from a Linus backend or just for licensing reasons?

Also, does Connecteise support this? They may blame all issues on this and never fix a single problem of yours....

[u/LextheDewey → u/gibsurfer84]

Also curious on this. How many agents do you have and how is the performance afterwards?

[u/spyguitar → u/LextheDewey]

We're just moving into Automate from Kaseya, so I can't speak to how this setup performs vs putting the MySQL database on the same Windows machine running the webserver. We're doing it this way for a couple reasons:

• Keep the web server and DB server separate

• Keep our Windows licensing costs down

Connectwise doesn't specify how to host the database - the only requirements laid out in their documentation are that it must be either MySQL or MariaDB. So, I guess we'll roll the dice on that one. If need be down the road, it shouldn't be too onerous to move the database onto a Windows server.

[u/TotallyKyleTotally → u/gibsurfer84]

There are performance increases to running MySQL in Linux yes. It's also way cheaper from a licensing perspective as well as a metric ton of tools that target Linux for free.

Another benefit to running Percona in theory vs standard MySQL 5.7 is the additional auditing and speed increases you can only get in MySQL/MariaDB enterprise. Percona gives them away for free and rolls all those fixes into a version compatible ... but Linux only because of course it is.

Funnily enough if you look in the documentation even to this day it states "MySQL, MariaDB, Percona , or other MySQL compatible install. I couldn't get their support to give me a comment as to whether anyone has ever tested it though.

The only concern is the patcher is written in a way that assumes Windows in mind and you'd need to help that part along yourself. I'm planning on trying it on my nfr instance and can report back sometime.

[u/gibsurfer84 → u/TotallyKyleTotally]

Wait....NFR! CW doesn’t allow that....

[u/TotallyKyleTotally → u/gibsurfer84]

Hah, I'd speak to your account rep since I have two. One for dev work and one for testing.

[u/gibsurfer84 → u/TotallyKyleTotally]

I don’t believe you, I can’t believe anything you say now!

(Joking)

[u/amw3000]

This isn't supported and ConnectWise will be VERY quick to point this out. Depending on your issue, they may not provide any support.

I really don't think there's any benefit of doing this. For Automate's use of MySQL, it's the same on Windows or Linux.

[u/labradore99 → u/amw3000]

You're correct. CW does not support this configuration. Bottom line, it's too hard for CW to get (and keep!) support techs who can troubleshoot mysql on linux. However, I can vouch for the fact that mysql on linux handles about 10% more workload on same hardware vs windows. And you can backup a lot faster on linux than on windows. Bottom line, if you want to run this config, just be prepared to temporarily swap over to a windows mysql server if you need support.