<@U0A71G31CDV> Does Starrocks 4.1 support having ...
# questions-and-troubleshooting
k
@Rocky Does Starrocks 4.1 support having an external external glue catalog mirror a Starrocks native table? I have a use case for fast upserts. I want to use a Starrocks native table for upserts and have an external catalog table mirror the Starrocks native table
r
StarRocks 4.1 (and earlier versions starting from 3.1) does not support a native "mirroring" feature that automatically syncs an internal StarRocks table (like a Primary Key table) to an external Glue/Iceberg catalog in real-time. However, you can achieve your goal of fast upserts on a native table while keeping an external catalog in sync using one of the following methods: 1. Sinking to Iceberg via Asynchronous Materialized Views (AMVs) The most common way to "mirror" a native table to an external catalog is to create an Asynchronous Materialized View on an external Iceberg catalog. * The Setup: You perform your fast upserts on a StarRocks native Primary Key table (internal catalog). * The Mirror: Create an Iceberg table in your Glue-backed catalog and then create an AMV in StarRocks that selects from the native table and sinks into the Iceberg table. * Synchronization: You can set the AMV to refresh periodically (e.g., every minute or hour) to keep the Glue/Iceberg table updated. * Why this works: It allows you to use the high-performance UPSERT capabilities of StarRocks' native engine while making the final data available in open formats for other engines via Glue. 2. Manual/Scheduled
INSERT INTO
StarRocks supports sinking data into external catalogs (Iceberg, Hive) using the
INSERT INTO
command. * You can schedule a job (via StarRocks' internal task manager or an external orchestrator like Airflow) to run:
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    INSERT INTO iceberg_catalog.db.mirror_table
    SELECT * FROM internal_catalog.db.upsert_table;
* This is effective for batch-style mirroring but is not "streaming" or "automatic." 3. Native Upserts on Iceberg Tables (StarRocks 4.1 Feature) StarRocks 4.1 has significantly improved its ability to perform DML on external Iceberg tables. * Position Deletes: StarRocks supports writing position delete files for Iceberg v2 tables. * Capability: You can perform
INSERT
,
UPDATE
, and
DELETE
directly on an Iceberg table managed by Glue. * Caveat: While functional, performing high-frequency upserts directly on Iceberg is generally slower than using a StarRocks native Primary Key table due to the overhead of generating Iceberg snapshots and manifest files. Summary of Support in 4.1 Feature | Supported in 4.1 Direct DML on Glue/Iceberg | Yes (Insert, Update, Delete) Sinking to Iceberg via
INSERT INTO
| Yes Materialized Views on External Catalogs | Yes Real-time "Mirror" Property | No (Requires AMV or scheduled task) Recommendation: For a fast-upsert use case, keep your ingestion target as a StarRocks native Primary Key table. Then, use an Asynchronous Materialized View targeting your Glue-backed Iceberg catalog to periodically "export" or "mirror" the data to the lakehouse for external consumption. References • data_source/catalog/hive_catalog.md • data_source/catalog/unified_catalog.md
k
@Rocky give an example mat view query that will have an external iceberg table be a replica of a native Starrocks table
r
Yes, StarRocks 4.1 supports creating Asynchronous Materialized Views (AMVs) that "sink" data into an external Iceberg catalog (backed by AWS Glue). This is the recommended way to mirror a native StarRocks table (which handles fast upserts) to a data lake for external consumption. By creating the Materialized View directly within your external Iceberg catalog, StarRocks handles the creation of the Iceberg table in Glue and manages the periodic synchronization. Example: Mirroring a Native Table to Iceberg (Glue) In this scenario, you have a native Primary Key table in your
default_catalog
that receives fast upserts. You want to mirror it to an external
iceberg_glue
catalog. 1. Define the External Catalog (if not already done)
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CREATE EXTERNAL CATALOG iceberg_glue
PROPERTIES (
    "type" = "iceberg",
    "iceberg.catalog.type" = "glue",
    "aws.glue.region" = "us-east-1",
    "aws.s3.endpoint" = "<http://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com|s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com>"
);
2. Create the Materialized View in the External Catalog You can create the MV by using the three-part name:
catalog.database.mv_name
.
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CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW iceberg_glue.target_db.mirror_table
PARTITION BY (dt) -- Partitioning helps with incremental mirroring
DISTRIBUTED BY HASH(id)
REFRESH ASYNC EVERY (INTERVAL 10 MINUTE) -- Set your sync frequency
PROPERTIES (
    "storage_format" = "parquet"
)
AS 
SELECT 
    id, 
    user_name, 
    event_time, 
    date_trunc('day', event_time) as dt
FROM default_catalog.native_db.fast_upsert_table;
Key Considerations for Your Use Case * Performance: You perform your high-frequency upserts on the Native Primary Key table. This avoids the latency and metadata overhead of writing directly to S3/Glue for every small change. * Asynchronous Sync: The Glue/Iceberg table is updated asynchronously based on the
REFRESH
schedule you define (e.g., every 5 minutes, 1 hour, etc.). * External Access: Once the refresh task finishes, the data is visible to any other engine (Spark, Athena, Trino) that reads from your Glue Data Catalog. * Partitioning: It is highly recommended to partition the Materialized View if your native table is large. This allows StarRocks to refresh only the changed partitions, making the "mirroring" process much faster. * Manual Refresh: If you need an immediate sync after a specific batch of upserts, you can trigger it manually:
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    REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW iceberg_glue.target_db.mirror_table;
Why use this over
INSERT INTO
?
While you can manually run
INSERT INTO iceberg_glue.target_db.table SELECT ...
, a Materialized View is superior for mirroring because it tracks data changes. If your native table is partitioned, StarRocks can detect which partitions were modified and only sync those to Iceberg, significantly reducing S3 I/O costs. References • using_starrocks/async_mv/Materialized_view.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/use_cases/data_lake_query_acceleration_with_materialized_views.md • data_source/catalog/iceberg/iceberg_catalog.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/feature-support-asynchronous-materialized-views.md
k
@Rocky what is the status of starrocks 4.1.3? i see a new tag for the docker CN image for 4.1.3
r
Based on the current version history and the appearance of the new Docker tag, here is the status of StarRocks 4.1.3: Status of StarRocks 4.1.3 StarRocks 4.1.3 is a recent patch release in the 4.1 stable branch. While official documentation for this specific patch is often published shortly after the Docker images are tagged, it follows the release of 4.1.1 (released late May 2026) and addresses further stability and security fixes. As you noticed, the new tag for
starrocks/cn-ubuntu:4.1.3
(and corresponding FE/BE images) indicates that this version is now the latest recommended patch for the 4.1 series, particularly for users in containerized environments. Known Focus of the 4.1.x Series If you are upgrading from 4.0 or an early 4.1.x version, the 4.1 series introduces: * Native Semi-Structured Data in Iceberg: Support for the
VARIANT
type when querying Iceberg tables. * Enhanced CN Stability: Specific fixes for Compute Node (CN) crashes during physical split scans and startup initialization issues (e.g., hash_util static order). * Security Hardening: Significant CVE patches, including upgrades to Netty (4.1.133.Final), pgjdbc, and BouncyCastle to address potential vulnerabilities. * Primary Key Table Optimizations: Continued improvements to the persistence and performance of the Primary Key engine. Recommendations * Check GitHub Releases: For the full list of bug fixes included in 4.1.3, the StarRocks GitHub Releases page is the most authoritative source for the changelog. * Upgrading: If you are currently on 4.1.0, upgrading to 4.1.3 is highly recommended due to a known "unstable load order" bug in the 4.1.0 container images that can cause BE/CN processes to fail on start. * Downgrade Note: If you upgrade to 4.1.3, you should not downgrade to any 4.0 version earlier than 4.0.6 due to metadata compatibility changes regarding tablet splitting. If you are looking for a specific bug fix or feature within 4.1.3, it is best to check the release tag details on GitHub or wait for the updated release notes on the official documentation site.
k
@Rocky how could i stand up a starrocks shared nothing database that mirrors data i have in an external iceberg catalog for high qps, low latency queries for application?
r
To achieve high QPS and low-latency queries for your application while mirroring an external Iceberg catalog, the recommended architecture is to use StarRocks Asynchronous Materialized Views (AMVs). In StarRocks, an AMV built on an external catalog acts as a local, native table. It physicalizes the data from Iceberg into StarRocks' high-performance local storage (Shared-Nothing BE nodes), enabling sub-millisecond query responses and massive concurrency that direct Iceberg queries cannot match. Step-by-Step Implementation 1. Configure the External Iceberg Catalog First, create a link to your Glue-backed Iceberg catalog so StarRocks can see the source data.
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CREATE EXTERNAL CATALOG iceberg_glue
PROPERTIES (
    "type" = "iceberg",
    "iceberg.catalog.type" = "glue",
    "aws.glue.region" = "us-east-1"
);
2. Create the "Mirror" (Asynchronous Materialized View) Create the AMV in your native StarRocks database. This command creates a native table on your BE local disks and initializes the data sync.
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CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW native_db.app_mirror_table
-- Optimize for your query patterns
DISTRIBUTED BY HASH(user_id) 
-- Partition by the same column as Iceberg for incremental refreshes
PARTITION BY (event_date) 
REFRESH ASYNC EVERY (INTERVAL 5 MINUTE) 
PROPERTIES (
    "replication_num" = "3",
    "storage_medium" = "SSD"
)
AS 
SELECT 
    user_id, 
    event_time, 
    payload,
    CAST(event_time AS DATE) as event_date
FROM iceberg_glue.source_db.raw_data;
Why this setup meets your requirements: * High QPS & Low Latency: Because the data is stored in StarRocks' proprietary columnar format on local BE disks (Shared-Nothing), you benefit from Primary Key indexes (if applicable), Bloom filters, and Bitmap indexes. Queries will hit local memory and SSDs instead of S3. * Automatic Incremental Mirroring: For Iceberg (v3.1.4+), StarRocks detects partition-level changes. When the Iceberg table gets new data, StarRocks only refreshes the affected partitions in the AMV, making the "mirroring" process highly efficient and cost-effective. * Application Transparency: Your application queries
native_db.app_mirror_table
just like a standard SQL table. You can also enable Transparent Rewrite, so queries against the external Iceberg catalog are automatically routed to this local mirror for speed. * Shared Nothing Performance: By setting
"storage_medium" = "SSD"
and a high
"replication_num"
, you ensure the data is distributed and replicated across your BE nodes, providing the high throughput needed for application-facing workloads. Troubleshooting & Tuning * Manual Sync: If you need to force a mirror update after a batch job completes in Iceberg:
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    REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW native_db.app_mirror_table;
* Monitoring: Check the status of your "mirror" sync tasks:
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    SELECT * FROM information_schema.task_runs
    WHERE task_name = 'mv_app_mirror_table'
    ORDER BY create_time DESC;
Note on Upserts: If your Iceberg source contains frequent updates/deletes and you need the mirror to reflect these accurately, ensure you are using StarRocks 4.x, which has enhanced support for syncing Iceberg equality/position deletes into the Materialized View. References • using_starrocks/async_mv/use_cases/data_lake_query_acceleration_with_materialized_views.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/use_cases/create_partitioned_materialized_view.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/Materialized_view.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/troubleshooting_asynchronous_materialized_views.md
k
@Rocky i want to have a table in my iceberg catalog be mirrored from a starrocks native table, but im getting this error:
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CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW iceberg.db.test_mirror
DISTRIBUTED BY HASH(id)
REFRESH ASYNC EVERY (INTERVAL 1 MINUTE) -- Set your sync frequency
PROPERTIES (
    "storage_format" = "parquet"
)
AS
SELECT
	*
FROM default_catalog.starrocks.test_mirror;
Query 1 ERROR at Line 1: : Getting analyzing error from line 1, column 25 to line 1, column 40. Detail message: Materialized view can only be created in default_catalog. You could either create it with default_catalog.<database>.<mv>, or switch to default_catalog through
set catalog <default_catalog>
statement.
r
The error you're seeing occurs because, in StarRocks, the Materialized View (MV) object itself must reside in the
default_catalog
. You cannot create an MV object inside an external catalog like
iceberg
. In StarRocks, Materialized Views are primarily used to accelerate queries by bringing external data into StarRocks' local storage. To achieve the opposite—mirroring data from a StarRocks native table to an external Iceberg table—the recommended approach is to use a scheduled Task with an
INSERT INTO
statement. The Correct Way: Use a Scheduled Task StarRocks supports sinking data to Iceberg tables via
INSERT INTO
(since v3.1). You can wrap this in a
TASK
to create an automated "mirroring" pipeline. 1. Create the target table in your Iceberg catalog You must first define the schema of the destination table in the Iceberg catalog.
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-- Switch to your iceberg catalog
SET CATALOG iceberg_glue;

CREATE TABLE target_db.mirrored_table (
    id BIGINT,
    data STRING,
    dt DATE
) PARTITION BY (dt);
2. Create a Task to mirror the data A
TASK
acts like a scheduled job. It can run a
SELECT
from your native StarRocks table and
INSERT
it into the Iceberg table.
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-- Tasks must be created in the default_catalog
CREATE TASK task_mirror_to_iceberg
SCHEDULE EVERY 1 MINUTE -- Set your sync frequency here
AS
INSERT INTO iceberg_glue.target_db.mirrored_table
SELECT 
    id, 
    data, 
    dt
FROM default_catalog.native_db.native_table
-- Optional: Add logic here to only sync new data (Incremental sync)
-- WHERE update_time > (SELECT max(update_time) FROM iceberg_glue.target_db.mirrored_table)
;
3. Start the Task Tasks are created in a
DEFERRED
state by default.
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ALTER TASK task_mirror_to_iceberg RESUME;
Why use a Task instead of an MV? * Storage Location: Materialized Views are designed to store data in StarRocks' proprietary internal format for sub-second query performance. They do not currently support "sinking" their internal data directly into a user-managed Iceberg table in an external catalog. * External Compatibility: By using
INSERT INTO
with a Task, StarRocks writes standard Parquet files and updates the Iceberg metadata in your Glue/Hive catalog, making the data immediately available to Spark, Trino, or Athena. * Flexibility: Tasks allow you to write custom incremental logic (e.g., using a
WHERE
clause with a timestamp) which is more efficient for large datasets than a full table rewrite. Monitoring your Mirroring You can check the progress of your mirroring task using:
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SELECT * FROM information_schema.task_runs 
WHERE task_name = 'task_mirror_to_iceberg' 
ORDER BY create_time DESC;
References • data_source/catalog/iceberg/iceberg_catalog.md • sql-reference/sql-statements/task/CREATE_TASK.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/Materialized_view.md • sql-reference/sql-statements/loading_unloading/INSERT.md References • data_source/External_table.md • data_source/catalog/iceberg/iceberg_catalog.md • quick_start/iceberg.md • data_source/catalog/iceberg/iceberg_rest_s3.md
r
The confusion stems from the direction of the mirroring. In my previous response (the one you linked at timestamp
1785201840.698829
), I was answering your first question:
*"How could i stand up a starrocks shared nothing database that mirrors data i have in an external iceberg catalog..."*
The recommendation for Asynchronous Materialized Views (AMVs) was for mirroring data from Iceberg into StarRocks. This "Data Lake Acceleration" use case is where StarRocks shines for high QPS/low latency by physicalizing the data locally on BE nodes. In your second question, you reversed the direction:
*"i want to have a table in my iceberg catalog be mirrored from a starrocks native table..."*
This is "Sinking to the Lakehouse" (StarRocks -> Iceberg). The "Materialized View" object in StarRocks is currently designed strictly as an internal object. Why you see that error: 1. Storage Engine: StarRocks Materialized Views use a proprietary internal storage format on the BE nodes to achieve sub-millisecond performance. They cannot (yet) store their data in an external Iceberg format/catalog directly. 2. Catalog Restriction: Because MVs are managed by the StarRocks FE (metadata) and BE (data storage), they must reside in the
default_catalog
. An external catalog like
iceberg
is a "read-only" or "metadata-mount" catalog from StarRocks' perspective for everything except
INSERT INTO
operations. The solution for your current requirement (SR -> Iceberg): To "mirror" or sync data from a native StarRocks table to an external Iceberg table, you use a Task with an INSERT INTO statement. This is the equivalent of a "scheduled sink":
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-- This creates the automation you are looking for
CREATE TASK mirror_to_iceberg
SCHEDULE EVERY 5 MINUTE  -- Your desired sync interval
AS
INSERT INTO iceberg.db.test_mirror
SELECT * FROM default_catalog.starrocks.test_mirror;

-- Start the background process
ALTER TASK mirror_to_iceberg RESUME;
Summary of Mirroring Mechanisms Direction | Mechanism | Purpose Iceberg $\rightarrow$ StarRocks | Asynchronous Materialized View | Query Acceleration: High QPS, sub-second latency for apps. StarRocks $\rightarrow$ Iceberg | Task +
INSERT INTO
| Data Export/Archival: Mirroring data back to the lakehouse. Regarding StarRocks 4.1.3: While 4.1 enhances the ability to query Iceberg and refresh MVs faster, it does not change the fundamental architecture where an MV is an internal StarRocks object. The "Incremental Materialized Views for Iceberg" feature mentioned in recent 4.1 blogs refers specifically to the ability of StarRocks to detect changes in Iceberg partitions and refresh a local StarRocks MV incrementally. References • using_starrocks/async_mv/use_cases/query_rewrite_with_materialized_views.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/use_cases/data_lake_query_acceleration_with_materialized_views.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/Materialized_view.md • using_starrocks/async_mv/feature-support-asynchronous-materialized-views.md