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+# How to query nova db for soft deleted instances
+
+This is useful for verifying or debugging archive and purge steps.
+Instructions below detail how to connect to the nova database and query common information for soft deleted instances.
+
+## Credentials
+
+First you'll need the MySQL user password:
+
+```sh
+PASS="$(juju exec --unit mysql-innodb-cluster/leader -- leader-get cluster-password)"
+echo "$PASS"
+```
+
+## SQL reference
+
+The main tables to work with are `nova.instances` for the active table,
+and `nova.shadow_instances` for the shadow table.
+
+A non-deleted instance will have the `deleted` column set to `0` or `NULL`.
+So far, `NULL` values have not been observed in practice.
+When an instance is soft-deleted,
+the `deleted` column will be set to a non-zero integer.
+
+**List** soft deleted instances in the **active** table:
+
+```sql
+select uuid, display_name from nova.instances where deleted != 0;
+```
+
+**List** soft deleted instances in the **shadow** table:
+
+(`deleted != 0` probably isn't necessary, because the shadow table should only contain soft deleted instances)
+
+```sql
+select uuid, display_name from nova.shadow_instances where deleted != 0;
+```
+
+**Count** soft deleted instances in the **active** table:
+
+```sql
+select count(*) from nova.instances where deleted != 0;
+```
+
+**Count** soft deleted instances in the **shadow** table:
+
+```sql
+select count(*) from nova.shadow_instances where deleted != 0;
+```
+
+## Interactive
+
+SSH in to an interactive MySQL shell, connected to the MySQL server:
+
+```sh
+juju ssh mysql-innodb-cluster/leader sudo mysql -u clusteruser -h localhost "-p$PASS"
+```
+
+Now once you're in, you can reference the SQL examples above to query as desired.
+
+## Batch
+
+For a non-interactive batch mode, you can pipe the SQL to the MySQL command through juju ssh.
+For example:
+
+```sh
+echo "select uuid, display_name from nova.instances where deleted != 0;" | juju ssh mysql-innodb-cluster/leader sudo mysql -u clusteruser -h localhost "-p$PASS"
+```
+
+Refer to the earlier SQL examples to query as desired.