Validate Avro Data with QuerySurge

QuerySurge is a smart data testing solution that automates data validation and testing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Avro, QuerySurge can work with live Avro data. This article walks through connecting to Avro data from QuerySurge.

With built-in optimized data processing, the CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Avro data. When you issue complex SQL queries to Avro, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Avro and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (often SQL functions and JOIN operations). Its built-in dynamic metadata querying allows you to work with and analyze Avro data using native data types.

Connecting to Avro Data in QuerySurge

To connect to live Avro data from QuerySurge, you need to deploy the JDBC Driver JAR file to your QuerySurge Agent(s) and add a new connection from the QuerySurge Admin view.

Deploy the JDBC Driver

1. Download the CData JDBC Driver for Avro installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.
2. Once the driver is installed, stop the Agent Service.
3. Copy the JAR File (and license file if it exists) from the installation location (typically C:\Program Files\CData\CData JDBC Driver for Avro\lib\) to your Agent(s) (QuerySurge_install_dir\agent\jdbc).
4. Restart the Agent Service.

For more information on deploying JDBC drivers for QuerySurge, refer to the QuerySurge Knowledge Base.

Configure a New Connection to Avro

1. Log into QuerySurge and navigate to the Admin view.
2. Click Configuration -> Connections in the Administration Tree.
3. Click Add to create a new connection.
4. In the QuerySurge Connection Wizard, click Next.
5. Name the connection (e.g. CData JDBC Connection to Avro).
6. Set the Data Source to "All Other JDBC Connections (Connection Extensibility)" and click Next.
7. Set the Driver Class to cdata.jdbc.avro.AvroDriver and click Next.

8. Set the Connection URL using the necessary connection properties to authenticate with Avro. Your Connection URL will look something like the following:

   jdbc:avro:URI=C:/folder/table.avroInitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH

   Built-in Connection String Designer

   For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Avro JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.avro.jar

   Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

   Connect to your local Avro file(s) by setting the URI connection property to the location of the Avro file.
9. Set the Test Query to enable the Test Connection button for the Connection (e.g. SELECT * FROM SampleTable_1 LIMIT 1) and click Next.
10. Click Test Connection to ensure the connection is configured properly and click Save to add the connection.

Once the connection is added, you can write SQL queries against your Avro data in QuerySurge.

Compare Avro Data Queries with a QueryPair

With the connection configured, you can follow the steps below to compare querying Avro data with a QueryPair.

1. Select "Design Library" from the Design Menu
2. Click QueryPairs under QuerySurge Design
3. Click "Create New QueryPair"
4. Name the QueryPair and click Save
5. In either the Source or Target panes, select the connection created above (select the same connection to query Avro twice or another connection to perform a comparison)
6. Write queries in the Editor for each pane, e.g. SELECT * FROM SampleTable_1
7. Click the "Design-Time Run" tab to execute the queries
8. When the query execution is finished, click "View Query Results" to see the Avro data returned by the query

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Avro and start working with your live Avro data in QuerySurge. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.