Highly available cloud-based database services

A computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:
• receive an indication of a failover condition in a server cluster for a virtual machine executing in the server cluster, wherein a first database program executing at the virtual machine communicates with one or more data storage devices that is attached to the virtual machine, and wherein a hostname is associated with the virtual machine;
• and
• in response to receiving the indication of the failover condition, perform failover of the server cluster, including:
• attach the one or more data storage devices to a backup virtual machine associated with the one or more data storage devices, so that a second database program executing at the backup virtual machine is able to communicate with the one or more data storage devices, wherein the backup virtual machine is already executing in the server cluster, and
• associating the hostname with the backup virtual machine.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• receive an indication of a failover condition in a server cluster for a virtual machine executing in the server cluster, wherein a first database program executing at the virtual machine communicates with one or more data storage devices that is attached to the virtual machine, and wherein a hostname is associated with the virtual machine;
• and
• in response to receiving the indication of the failover condition, perform failover of the server cluster, including:
• attach the one or more data storage devices to a backup virtual machine associated with the one or more data storage devices, so that a second database program executing at the backup virtual machine is able to communicate with the one or more data storage devices, wherein the backup virtual machine is already executing in the server cluster, and
• associate the hostname with the backup virtual machine.