inanzzz | Using multiple MySQL entity managers for multiple bundles and databases

Assuming that we have Backend and Frontend bundles and each have their own entities. The entities live in different databases so we'll need dedicated entity managers for each. For more info, click here.

Application structure

src
    Application
        BackendBundle
            Entity
                User.php
                Log.php
                Activity.php
        FrontendBundle
            Entity
                Blog.php
                Visit.php

Parameters.yml

parameters:
    database_host: 127.0.0.1
    database_port: null
    database_name: symfony_backend
    database_user: root
    database_password: null

    frontend_database_host: 127.0.0.1
    frontend_database_port: null
    frontend_database_name: symfony_frontend
    frontend_database_user: root
    frontend_database_password: null

Config.yml

doctrine:
    dbal:
        default_connection: backend
        connections:
            backend:
                driver:   pdo_mysql
                host:     %database_host%
                port:     %database_port%
                dbname:   %database_name%
                user:     %database_user%
                password: %database_password%
                charset:  UTF8
                mapping_types:
                    enum: string

            frontend:
                driver:   pdo_mysql
                host:     %frontend_database_host%
                port:     %frontend_database_port%
                dbname:   %frontend_database_name%
                user:     %frontend_database_user%
                password: %frontend_database_password%
                charset:  UTF8
                mapping_types:
                    enum: string

    orm:
        auto_generate_proxy_classes: %kernel.debug%
        default_entity_manager: backend
        entity_managers:
            backend:
              connection: backend
              mappings:
                  ApplicationBackendBundle:
                    dir:  Entity

            frontend:
              connection: frontend
              mappings:
                  ApplicationFrontendBundle:
                    dir:  Entity

Test

After manually creating symfony_backend and symfony_frontend databases, you can use commands below to create entities automatically.

Inanzzz-MBP:football inanzzz$ app/console doctrine:schema:create --em=frontend --env=dev
ATTENTION: This operation should not be executed in a production environment.

Creating database schema...
Database schema created successfully!
Inanzzz-MBP:football inanzzz$ app/console doctrine:schema:create --em=backend --env=dev
ATTENTION: This operation should not be executed in a production environment.

Creating database schema...
Database schema created successfully!

Accessing it in application

Dependency Injection

You can use lines below as service arguments in services.yml file and reference to use Doctrine\ORM\EntityManager; in your class.

@doctrine.orm.backend_entity_manager
@doctrine.orm.frontend_entity_manager

Controller

# Just getting entity managers
class TestController extends Controller
{
    public function indexAction()
    {
        // All three return the "backend" entity manager
        $em = $this->get('doctrine')->getManager();
        $em = $this->get('doctrine')->getManager('default');
        $em = $this->get('doctrine.orm.backend_entity_manager');

        // Both of these return the "frontend" entity manager
        $em = $this->get('doctrine')->getManager('frontend');
        $em = $this->get('doctrine.orm.frontend_entity_manager');
    }
}

# Accessing repositories through entity managers
class TestController extends Controller
{
    public function indexAction()
    {
        // Retrieves a repository managed by the "backend" em
        $result = $this->get('doctrine')
            ->getRepository('ApplicationBackendBundle:User')
            ->findAll()
        ;

        // Explicit way to deal with the "backend" em
        $result = $this->get('doctrine')
            ->getRepository('ApplicationBackendBundle:User', 'backend')
            ->findAll()
        ;

        // Retrieves a repository managed by the "frontend" em
        $result = $this->get('doctrine')
            ->getRepository('ApplicationFrontendBundle:Blog', 'frontend')
            ->findAll()
        ;
    }
}

FeatureContext

$this->kernel->getContainer()->get('doctrine.orm.backend_entity_manager');
$this->container->get('doctrine.orm.backend_entity_manager');