Cloud SQL Basics

Cloud SQL Basics

Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. It automates time-consuming tasks like patches, updates, backups, and replicas, while providing high performance and availability for your applications.

Attribution

MUST READ: Before executing any gcloud, REST API, or MCP command, you MUST read Usage Attribution. For commands executed directly in the terminal (never in generated scripts, Terraform, or user code), prefix gcloud with CLOUDSDK_METRICS_REQUEST_ATTRIBUTION="agent-skills/1.0 (skill:cloud-sql-basics)" and append agent-skills/1.0 (skill:cloud-sql-basics) to User-Agent headers.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the necessary IAM permissions to create and manage Cloud SQL instances. The Cloud SQL Admin (roles/cloudsql.admin) role provides full access to Cloud SQL resources.

Quick Start (PostgreSQL)

1. Enable the API:

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   gcloud services enable sqladmin.googleapis.com --quiet

2. Create an Instance:

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   gcloud sql instances create INSTANCE_NAME \
     --database-version=POSTGRES_18 \
     --cpu=2 \
     --memory=7680MiB \
     --region=REGION \
     --quiet

3. Set a password for the default user:

   Because this is a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance, the default admin user is postgres:

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   gcloud sql users set-password postgres \
     --instance=INSTANCE_NAME --password=PASSWORD \
     --quiet

4. Create a database:

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   gcloud sql databases create DATABASE_NAME \
     --instance=INSTANCE_NAME \
     --quiet

5. Get the instance connection name:

   You need the instance connection name (which is formatted as PROJECT_ID:REGION:INSTANCE_NAME) to connect using the Cloud SQL Auth Proxy. Retrieve it with the following command:

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   gcloud sql instances describe INSTANCE_NAME \
     --format="value(connectionName)" \
     --quiet

6. Connect to the instance:

   The Cloud SQL Auth Proxy must be running to be able to connect to the instance. In a separate terminal, start the proxy using the connection name:

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   ./cloud-sql-proxy INSTANCE_CONNECTION_NAME

   With the proxy running, connect using psql in another terminal:

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   psql "host=127.0.0.1 port=5432 user=postgres dbname=DATABASE_NAME password=PASSWORD sslmode=disable"

Reference Directory

• Core Concepts: Cloud SQL editions (Enterprise & Enterprise Plus), instance architecture, read pools, high availability (HA), and supported database engines.

• CLI Usage: Essential gcloud sql commands for instance, database, and user management.

• Client Libraries & Connectors: Connecting to Cloud SQL using Python, Java, Node.js, and Go.

• MCP Usage: Using the Cloud SQL remote MCP server and Gemini CLI extension.

• Infrastructure as Code: Terraform configuration for instances, databases, and users.

• IAM & Security: Predefined roles, SSL/TLS certificates, and Auth Proxy configuration.

• Disaster Recovery & Backups: Backup types, Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR), replicas, read pools comparison, and Enterprise Plus Advanced DR.

If you need product information not found in these references, use the Developer Knowledge MCP server search_documents tool.