NineData Community Edition

This article provides a detailed introduction to the NineData Community Edition, including its product positioning and a multi-dimensional comparison with the enterprise edition, helping you quickly understand the community edition.

What is NineData Community Edition?

NineData Community Edition is a permanently free, one-click installation data management solution launched by Jiuzhang Arithmetic, designed specifically for developers, startup teams, educational institutions, and individual users. It includes three core features of NineData: database DevOps, data replication, and database comparison.

• Database DevOps: Database DevOps features powerful capabilities such as data source management, data querying, SQL standards, SQL review, and approval processes, helping users quickly complete various environmental data management tasks and supporting corporate digital transformation.

• Data Replication: NineData data replication supports offline and real-time data replication between multiple homogeneous and heterogeneous data sources. It is suitable for various business scenarios such as data migration, database scaling, database version upgrades, disaster recovery, multi-active in different locations, and data integration for data warehouses and data lakes.

• Database Comparison: NineData database comparison feature supports consistency comparison between two data sources, and in cases of inconsistency, it can automatically generate change SQL to achieve consistency in data and structure.

NineData Community Edition is a completely offline running localized deployment version, which does not require connection to any cloud services or access to the NineData website. All data and operations are 100% retained in your local environment. It is particularly suitable for intranet environments that cannot access the internet, perfectly matching small-scale enterprises, individual projects, or learning and testing scenarios.

In terms of deployment, NineData Community Edition is based on Docker technology, and users can complete the installation on their local computers with a simple command, allowing anyone to quickly complete the deployment.

Core Values

✅ Permanently Free, Efficient and Easy to Use

The community edition is free to use, with a 10-minute deployment and online operation throughout the process.

✅ Support for Cloud Virtual Machines or Local Deployment

It can be deployed in the cloud or on a local private network, meeting the data compliance requirements for sensitive business.

✅ Data Management is Safer and More Efficient

With 15 years of experience, the professional database DevOps solution makes R&D and DBA collaboration more efficient and data safer.

✅ High-Performance Real-Time Data Migration and Synchronization

Based on self-developed CDC technology, it professionally addresses database migration, synchronization, disaster recovery, and other business needs, supporting real-time data replication of tens of thousands of TPS per second.

Community Edition vs Enterprise Edition (formerly NineData Dedicated Cluster)

Comparison Dimension	Community Edition	Enterprise Edition
Core Positioning	Developers/Startup Teams/Individual Developers	Medium and Large Enterprises/Production Environment
Deployment Method	Docker Single Machine Deployment	Docker Single Machine Deployment/Distributed Cluster
Database DevOps	10 data sources (functions consistent with the professional version)	Dynamic expansion according to license (unlimited)
Data Replication	10 tasks (including 2 incremental tasks)	Dynamic expansion according to license (unlimited)
Data Comparison	Up to 10 tasks	No limit
Deployment Complexity	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Single command deployment	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Capable of scaling up and down, adding nodes, etc.
Resource Consumption	Single Machine	Cluster (cross-room disaster recovery + multi-active in different locations)
Technical Support	Documents + WeChat Group	7x24 dedicated technical support + SLA service guarantee
Cost	Permanently Free	Pay as you go

NineData Community Edition vs. Mainstream Tools Full-Dimensional Comparison

Database DevOps

Comparison Items		NineData Community Edition	Archery	Yearning	Navicat	Flyway	Liquibase
Basic Capabilities	Update Iteration Frequency	High (Continuous delivery, weekly iteration)	Medium (Quarterly updates, driven by the open-source community)	Medium (Irregular updates, dependent on community contributions)	Medium (Annual major versions, quarterly minor updates)	Medium (Regular feature enhancements, about once every half year)	Medium (Regular maintenance, quarterly updates)
	Deployment Mode	Docker Deployment	Docker Deployment	Docker Deployment	Desktop Application	CLI Integrated with Java	CLI Integrated with Java
	Supported Data Sources	Domestic databases, data warehouses, multi-cloud databases (such as AWS, Alibaba Cloud, etc.), MySQL, PG, Oracle, SQL Server, Db2, etc.	MySQL, PG, Redis, etc.	MySQL, PG	MySQL, PG, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.	MySQL, PG, Oracle, and other mainstream databases	Mainstream databases (similar to Flyway)
	Login Method	Account password/third-party login/SSO(LDAP)	Web account/LDAP/OAuth	Web account/LDAP	Local account/License	No (Command Line)	No (Command Line/Code)
SQL IDE	Supported Languages	Chinese and English	Primarily Chinese	Chinese	Multiple languages	English	English
	SQL Window	Supported (Strong)	Supported	Supported	Supported (Strong)	X	X
	Object Visual Management	Supported	Partial support (table structure)	Limited	Supported (Graphical)	X	X
	Query Result Set Operations	Export, Edit	Export, Edit	Export	Export, Edit, Charts	X	X
	Session Isolation	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported	X	X
SQL Review and Release	SQL Change Release	Work Order + Automated Process	Work Order Approval + Execution	Work Order Approval	Direct Execution	Direct Execution of Migration Scripts	Direct Execution of Scripts
	Change Automatic Backup	Supported	Supported	Supported	Manual Backup	X	X
	Approval Process	Multi-level approval, can be connected to external approval processes	Multi-level approval	Simple approval	X	X	X
	Online DDL	Natively Supported	Dependent on tools such as PT-OSC	Dependent on external tools	X	X	X
	Online DML	Supported	X	X	X	X	X
	Built-in SQL Standards	200+ built-in rules for various database types / custom	Some rules for MySQL	Some rules for MySQL	X	X	X
	Mobile Approval	Supported	X	X	X	X	X
	Release Process Orchestration	Supported	X	X	X	X	X
	SQL Code Review	Strong (Automated Review)	Average (Custom Rules)	Average (Built-in Rules)	X	X	X
Data Security	Sensitive Data Protection	Intelligent data classification and grading, complete data anonymization + encryption	Support manual settings, but can be easily bypassed	Support manual settings, but can be easily bypassed	X	X	X
	Permission Authorization Mode	RBAC + ABAC, administrator authorization + active application	RBAC, administrator authorization + active application	RBAC, administrator authorization	X	X	X
	Permission Model	Fine-grained permissions (database/table/sensitive column/module/operation)	Project-level isolation	User-level permissions	Local permissions	X	X
	Operation Audit	Full-link audit	Complete logs	Basic logs	X	X	X
Advanced Data Processing	Data Import	Multi-format import, syntax-level controllable	Support for CSV/SQL	Support for CSV	Multiple formats (Excel, CSV, etc.)	Through migration scripts	Through scripts
	Data Export	Multi-format export, file encryption, watermark protection	Support for CSV	Support for CSV	Multiple formats export	X	X
	Data Archiving and Cleaning	Automatic archiving (MySQL, PG)	Manual (MySQL)	X	Manual	X	X
	Data Tracking and Rollback	Automatic parsing of Binlog to generate in reverse	X	X	X	X	X
	Data Generation	Supported, simulation template customization	X	X	Support for test data generation	X	X
Performance Diagnosis	Slow SQL Performance Analysis	In-depth analysis + optimization suggestions (MySQL, PG, Oracle, Db2)	Support (MySQL)		Basic analysis	X	X
	Session Management	View/Kill sessions	View/Kill sessions	View sessions	View/Kill sessions	X	X

Data Replication

Comparison Items		NineData	Canal	DataX	FlinkCDC
Basic Functions	Types of Supported Data Sources	60+	1	30	10+
	Visual Data Source Configuration Management	Supported	X	X	X
	User Management	Supported	X	X	X
	Permission Management	Supported	X	X	X
Core Functions	Table Structure Migration	Supported	X	X	X
	Non-table Object Migration	Supported	X	X	X
	Full Data Migration	Supported	Partially supported, large tables may not be successfully migrated	Supported	Supported
	Incremental Data Synchronization (DML)	Supported	Supported	X	Supported
	Incremental Structure Synchronization (DDL)	Supported	X	X	Only supports ADD Column
	Data Filtering	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Object Name Mapping	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Data Transformation Processing	Supported	X	Supported	Supported
	Structure Comparison	Supported	X	X	X
	Full Data Comparison	Supported	X	X	X
	Incremental Data Comparison	Supported	X	X	X
	Modify Synchronization Objects	Supported	X	X	X
	Visual Task Configuration and Management	Supported	X	X	Basic support
Task Management	Task High Availability and Automatic Disaster Recovery (task level, server level)	Supported	X	X	Supported
	Task Pause and Resume	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Task Throttling	Supported	X	X	X
	Alerts	Supported	X	X	X
	Visual Monitoring	Supported	X	X	X
	Data SQL Query Window	Supported	X	X	X

Deployment Method

Prerequisites

• Docker is installed on the server.
• The server architecture is Intel x86_64, with a minimum specification of 4-core CPU, 16 GB RAM, and 200 GB disk space.

Operation Steps

1. Log in to the command line window of the server and execute the following command:

   docker run -p 9999:9999 --privileged -v /opt/ninedata:/u01 --name ninedata -d swr.cn-east-3.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest

   Parameter Description

   • -p 9999:9999: NineData provides services through port 9999, and this parameter maps the container's 9999 port to the server to ensure that the client browser can directly access the NineData service.
   • --privileged: Grants the container system permissions to run and access.
   • -v /opt/ninedata:/u01: Mounts the server's /opt/ninedata directory to the container's /u01 directory for data storage.
   • --name ninedata: Sets the container name to ninedata, which can be changed to any other container name.
   • -d swr.cn-east-3.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest: The image address of NineData, used to pull the NineData image file.
   tip

   NineData provides multi-regional image downloads, and you can choose the nearest one to replace the image address behind the -d in the command above for faster download speeds.

   • North China - Beijing: swr.cn-north-4.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest

   • East China - Shanghai: swr.cn-east-3.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest

   • South China - Guangzhou: swr.cn-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest

   • Official NineData Docker Hub address: ninedata/ninedata:latest

   2. After the container starts, NineData services will automatically deploy and initialize the services within the container, which is expected to take about 5 to 10 minutes. You can check the initialization progress with the command docker logs -f ninedata, and wait for the following prompt to appear on the screen, indicating that the NineData service has started successfully.

      

      tip

      If you specified a different container name in step 1, you need to replace ninedata in the above command with your actual container name.

   3. Enter the connection address of NineData in the browser to open the login page of the NineData console. The default port number for NineData services is 9999, and the initial administrator account and password are both admin. After the first login, the page will pop up a password change window, please change the administrator password immediately.

      

   Frequently Asked Questions

   • Q: Why can't I select the desired data source when creating a replication task?

     • Reason: The Community Edition currently only supports three replication pipelines:
       1. MySQL → MySQL
       2. PostgreSQL → PostgreSQL
       3. MySQL → Doris Additional pipelines will be rolled out in future updates.

   • Q: The browser suddenly cannot open the Community Edition NineData console and displays a 504 error. What is the reason?

     • Possible cause: This may be due to insufficient server disk space.
     • Solution: Appropriately expand the disk space and execute docker restart <container ID>. Wait approximately 10 minutes for the restart to complete.

   • Q: After executing docker logs -f ninedata, the screen displays the message You can view detailed logs in the /u01/server.log, then freezes. What is the reason?

     • Possible cause: This deployment might not be the first attempt. Residual files from a previous deployment may exist in the directory storing NineData files, such as the /opt/ninedata directory.
     • Solution: Clean up the previous deployment directory and re-execute the deployment steps according to this documentation.

   • Q: The NineData container fails to start. The server.log shows the error "Failed to start ContainerManager" err="cannot enter cgroupv2 \"/sys/fs/cgroup/kubepods\" with domain controllers -- it is in an invalid state". What is the reason?

     • Possible cause: Newer Linux distributions enable CGroup v2 by default. If Docker attempts to create a child CGroup, it will trigger an invalid state error, causing the container to fail to start.

     • Solution: Add the --cgroupns=host parameter to the Docker run command to share the host’s CGroup namespace. For example:

       docker run --cgroupns=host -p 9999:9999 --privileged -v /opt/ninedata:/u01 --name ninedata -d swr.cn-east-3.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest 

   • Q: Why does the NineData container fail to start with the error "kube-proxy exited: iptables is not available on this host" in server.log?

     • Possible Cause: Permission or container configuration issues. The container might not be running in privileged mode or lacks access to the host's /lib/modules directory, preventing it from managing iptables rules.

     • Solution: Run the container in privileged mode and grant NET_ADMIN capability. Example command:

       docker run --cap-add NET_ADMIN --privileged -v /opt/ninedata:/u01 --name ninedata -d swr.cn-east-3.myhuaweicloud.com/ninedata/ninedata:latest