insecure-test-cluster.md

CockroachDB replicates and distributes data behind-the-scenes and uses a Gossip protocol to enable each node to locate data across the cluster. Once a cluster is live, any node can be used as a SQL gateway.

When using a load balancer, you must issue commands directly to the load balancer, which then routes traffic to the nodes.

Use the built-in SQL client locally as follows:

1. On your local machine, launch the built-in SQL client, with the --host flag set to the address of the load balancer:

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   $ cockroach sql --insecure --host=<address of load balancer>

2. Create an insecurenodetest database:

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   > CREATE DATABASE insecurenodetest;

3. View the cluster's databases, which will include insecurenodetest:

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   > SHOW DATABASES;

   +--------------------+
   |      Database      |
   +--------------------+
   | crdb_internal      |
   | information_schema |
   | insecurenodetest   |
   | pg_catalog         |
   | system             |
   +--------------------+
   (5 rows)
   

4. Use \q to exit the SQL shell.