cloud-sql-basics

Synced v1.0.0 License: Apache-2.0 Source: google/skills/skills/cloud/cloud-sql-basics Commit: 99c871e Latest included change: 2026-09-21

This file generates or explains Cloud SQL resources. Use this file when the user asks to create a Cloud SQL instance or database for MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server. Cloud SQL manages third-party MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server instances as resources in Cloud SQL. For example, when Cloud SQL creates an open-source MySQL instance, the resulting resource is a Cloud SQL for MySQL instance that Google Cloud manages. Cloud SQL handles backups, high availability, and secure connectivity for relational database workloads.

Summary

Purpose: Explains how Google Cloud’s managed relational database service runs MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server workloads while handling maintenance, backups, availability, and secure connectivity.
When to use: Consult it when planning a managed database setup or reviewing how to administer, connect to, secure, or recover one on Google Cloud.
Outputs: It provides IAM prerequisites, a PostgreSQL setup and connection walkthrough, and references for CLI, client libraries, MCP, Terraform, security, backups, and disaster recovery.

Upstream changes (11, latest included 2026-09-21)

becc4b8 2026-09-21 Enforce semantic versioning (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH) for skills. Added version `1.0.0` to the skill's metadata.

50eecce 2026-07-24 Improved accuracy and contents for Cloud SQL basics skills for security, CLI usage, backups and DR configurations and core concepts Expanded the Core Concepts summary with Cloud SQL editions and read pools, and added a Disaster Recovery & Backups reference covering backups, PITR, replicas, read-pool comparisons, and Enterprise Plus Advanced DR.

c75b500 2026-06-24 Restructure the YAML frontmatter in all SKILL.md files to nest the 'category' field under the 'metadata:' block. The 'category' field is used to organize the skills in the README.md Moved the Databases category under `metadata` and inserted blank lines before several Quick Start code blocks.

626910e 2026-05-11 Update gcloud examples to use --quiet. Updated the `gcloud` examples to use `--quiet` for API enablement, instance creation, password setting, database creation, and instance description.

6f0b877 2026-04-23 Nests cloud/ skills under a top level skills/ directory Renamed the file's path from `cloud/cloud-sql-basics/SKILL.md` to `skills/cloud/cloud-sql-basics/SKILL.md` without changing its contents.

9114a94 2026-04-23 Flatten skill directories to work with multiple installation tools Moved the unchanged skill file from `cloud/products/cloud-sql/cloud-sql-basics/SKILL.md` to `cloud/cloud-sql-basics/SKILL.md`.

9fdab90 2026-04-19 No public description Changed the Quick Start heading to specify PostgreSQL.

9b3ff7f 2026-04-17 No public description Changed the document heading from `Cloud SQL Guide` to `Cloud SQL Basics`.

1b57cb4 2026-04-17 No public description Renamed the skill in its frontmatter from `cloud-sql` to `cloud-sql-basics`.

c871830 2026-04-16 No public description Added PostgreSQL's default `postgres` user guidance and a command to retrieve the instance connection name, updated Auth Proxy instructions, and changed reference links to `references/...`.

2f4998e 2026-04-16 No public description Added the initial Cloud SQL skill guide with a service overview, prerequisites, PostgreSQL setup and connection steps, and reference links.

npx skills add "lettucebo/Skills#v2.2.0@cloud-sql-basics" --full-depth

⚠ Available after v2.2.0 is published

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.

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)

Enable the API:

gcloud services enable sqladmin.googleapis.com --quiet

Create an Instance:

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

Set a password for the default user:

Because this is a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance, the default admin user is postgres:
```
gcloud sql users set-password postgres \
  --instance=INSTANCE_NAME --password=PASSWORD \
  --quiet
```

Create a database:

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

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:
```
gcloud sql instances describe INSTANCE_NAME \
  --format="value(connectionName)" \
  --quiet
```
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:
```
./cloud-sql-proxy INSTANCE_CONNECTION_NAME
```
With the proxy running, connect using psql in another terminal:
```
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.