The Challenge
The client, a company in the iGaming industry, was running PostgreSQL versions 13 and 15 within its database environment.
As part of the ongoing modernization of its infrastructure, the client needed to upgrade to a newer PostgreSQL version with improved performance and security. At the same time, there was an additional challenge affecting the stability and responsiveness of the database environment.
Reporting workloads from Tableau were running directly against the primary database. As reporting activity generated additional database load, the primary database had to handle both its operational workload and reporting queries.
The objective was therefore to address both requirements as part of the same initiative: modernize the PostgreSQL environment while reducing the reporting-related load placed on the primary database.
The Solution
ITGix upgraded the client’s PostgreSQL environment from versions 13 and 15 to PostgreSQL 17.
To improve the way reporting workloads were handled, physical replication was implemented between the primary database and a replica/backup node. The replica maintained a copy of the data from the primary database and provided a separate location for reporting reads.
Following the implementation, Tableau was configured to read from the replica/backup node instead of the primary database.
This meant that reporting queries no longer competed directly with the primary database workload. At the same time, the client could continue using its existing reporting processes while benefiting from the upgraded database environment.
The combined approach addressed both the database modernization requirement and the need to reduce unnecessary load on the primary database.
The Results
The project delivered improvements to both the database platform and the way workloads were distributed within the environment.
Key benefits included:
- Modernized database infrastructure with PostgreSQL 17
- Improved performance and security through the database upgrade
- Reduced load on the primary database by moving Tableau reads to the replica
- Improved overall database stability by separating reporting activity from the primary workload
- Improved response times by reducing the reporting-related pressure on the primary database
- More efficient reporting workload handling through the use of the replica/backup node
Moving Tableau reads away from the primary database allowed the client to better separate reporting activity from its main database workload. This reduced the impact of reporting queries on the primary system and created a more stable environment for ongoing operations.
Conclusion
The project combined a PostgreSQL modernization with a practical improvement to the way database workloads were handled.
By upgrading to PostgreSQL 17 and implementing physical replication, ITGix helped the iGaming company reduce the reporting load placed on its primary database while providing a more modern and stable database foundation.
With Tableau reads now directed to the replica/backup node, the client benefits from improved stability and response times without changing the role of the primary database as the main operational data source.
The result is a more efficient database environment that supports both the client’s operational needs and its reporting requirements while reducing unnecessary pressure on the primary database.
Check out more of ITGix’s case studies.