Cassandra operations in Data Control Tower

This section explains how to manage Apache Cassandra infrastructure, data ingestion, and virtualization workflows by using Delphix Data Control Tower (DCT). It covers engine onboarding, connector management, environment configuration, dSource lifecycle operations, and VDB provisioning and management.

Overview

The Apache Cassandra connector extends the Delphix Continuous Data Engine to virtualize Cassandra databases. The connector is implemented as a staged plugin and enables snapshot-based provisioning of Cassandra clusters using native backup and restore operations.

What the connector does

Use the Cassandra connector to discover Cassandra installations, link staged data sources, capture snapshot metadata, and provision virtual databases (VDBs). The connector supports both single-node and multi-node Cassandra cluster configurations.

  • Discovers Cassandra repositories on UNIX hosts
  • Links Cassandra data sources using a staged workflow
  • Captures snapshots with cluster and configuration metadata
  • Provisions, reconfigures, and unconfigures Cassandra VDBs

Key components

  • Continuous Data Engine – Executes Cassandra discovery, ingestion, snapshot, and virtualization operations. For more information, read Connect a Continuous Data Engine in DCT.
  • Cassandra connector plugin – A JSON-based connector that enables engine-side discovery of Cassandra installations. For more information, read Upload the Connector.json in DCT.
  • Infrastructure connections (environments) – Registered Cassandra hosts that DCT communicates with over SSH. For more information, read Add Cassandra environments in Data Control Tower.
  • Source configurations – Logical definitions that identify which Cassandra instances can be ingested as dSources. For more information, read Create a source configuration for Connectors in DCT.
  • dSources – Managed representations of Cassandra databases used for snapshotting and provisioning.
  • Virtual Databases (VDBs) – Writable Cassandra databases provisioned from dSource or VDB snapshots.

Prerequisites

  • Access to DCT with administrative permissions
  • A running Delphix Continuous Data Engine
  • Network connectivity between DCT, the engine, and Cassandra hosts
  • Valid Cassandra operating system and database credentials
  • Cassandra connector JSON file available for upload
  • Delphix Continuous Data Engine 6.0.12.x or later
  • Apache Cassandra installed on UNIX-based hosts
  • expect utility installed on Cassandra hosts

Connector identity

Property Value
Connector name sc:cassandra
Plugin type Staged
Implementation language Python
Build version 2026.1.0

Limitations

  • Only the Staging Push ingestion method is supported
  • Maximum supported cluster size is nine nodes
  • Automatic source configuration discovery is not supported