16.1.6 Replication and Binary Logging Options and Variables

The following sections contain information about mysqld options and server variables that are used in replication and for controlling the binary log. Options and variables for use on sources and replicas are covered separately, as are options and variables relating to binary logging and global transaction identifiers (GTIDs). A set of quick-reference tables providing basic information about these options and variables is also included.

Of particular importance is the server_id system variable.

Property Value
Command-Line Format --server-id=#
System Variable server_id
Scope Global
Dynamic Yes
Type Integer
Default Value 0
Minimum Value 0
Maximum Value 4294967295

This variable specifies the server ID. In MySQL 5.7, server_id must be specified if binary logging is enabled, otherwise the server is not allowed to start.

server_id is set to 0 by default. On a replication source server and each replica, you must specify server_id to establish a unique replication ID in the range from 1 to 232 - 1. Unique, means that each ID must be different from every other ID in use by any other source or replica in the replication topology. For additional information, see Section 16.1.6.2, “Replication Source Options and Variables”, and Section 16.1.6.3, “Replica Server Options and Variables”.

If the server ID is set to 0, binary logging takes place, but a source with a server ID of 0 refuses any connections from replicas, and a replica with a server ID of 0 refuses to connect to a source. Note that although you can change the server ID dynamically to a nonzero value, doing so does not enable replication to start immediately. You must change the server ID and then restart the server to initialize the replica.

For more information, see Section 16.1.2.5.1, “Setting the Replica Configuration”.

server_uuid

In MySQL 5.7, the server generates a true UUID in addition to the server_id value supplied by the user. This is available as the global, read-only server_uuid system variable.

Note

The presence of the server_uuid system variable in MySQL 5.7 does not change the requirement for setting a unique server_id value for each MySQL server as part of preparing and running MySQL replication, as described earlier in this section.

Property Value
System Variable server_uuid
Scope Global
Dynamic No
Type String

When starting, the MySQL server automatically obtains a UUID as follows:

  1. Attempt to read and use the UUID written in the file data_dir/auto.cnf (where data_dir is the server's data directory).

  2. If data_dir/auto.cnf is not found, generate a new UUID and save it to this file, creating the file if necessary.

The auto.cnf file has a format similar to that used for my.cnf or my.ini files. In MySQL 5.7, auto.cnf has only a single [auto] section containing a single server_uuid setting and value; the file's contents appear similar to what is shown here:

[auto]
server_uuid=8a94f357-aab4-11df-86ab-c80aa9429562
Important

The auto.cnf file is automatically generated; do not attempt to write or modify this file.

When using MySQL replication, sources and replicas know each other's UUIDs. The value of a replica's UUID can be seen in the output of SHOW SLAVE HOSTS. Once START SLAVE has been executed, the value of the source's UUID is available on the replica in the output of SHOW SLAVE STATUS.

Note

Issuing a STOP SLAVE or RESET SLAVE statement does not reset the source's UUID as used on the replica.

A server's server_uuid is also used in GTIDs for transactions originating on that server. For more information, see Section 16.1.3, “Replication with Global Transaction Identifiers”.

When starting, the replication I/O thread generates an error and aborts if its source's UUID is equal to its own unless the --replicate-same-server-id option has been set. In addition, the replication I/O thread generates a warning if either of the following is true: