Databases

Database instances and logical databases

A database instance is the PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MariaDB service running on a server. A logical database lives inside that instance. One server can run multiple database instances, and each instance can contain multiple logical databases and users.

Backups and restores use both: you select an instance, then one or more logical databases.

Provision a database instance

1. Open Servers, select the target server, and choose Database.
2. Start provisioning and choose the engine and supported version.
3. Review the generated settings, then create the instance.
4. Follow its status until provisioning succeeds or reports a failure.

Serversinc creates persistent storage, starts the database container, and records the resulting instance. Connect an application only after the status is Running.

Supported engines are PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB. See Database engines for the versions you can provision.

Import an existing database

1. Open the server’s Database tab and choose the import option.
2. Select the existing container and identify its engine.
3. Provide an administrative username and password.
4. Start the import and follow its status.

Serversinc uses the credentials to inspect and manage the instance. Importing adopts the existing container; it doesn’t copy or migrate the data.

Manage databases and users

Within an instance, you can:

• Create and drop logical databases
• Create and drop application users
• Rotate a user’s password
• Grant a user access to a logical database

To prepare credentials for an application:

1. Create a logical database for the application.
2. Create a dedicated user rather than sharing the administrative account.
3. Grant that user access to the logical database.
4. Save the one-time password in your secret manager.
5. Add the connection values to the application’s secret variables and redeploy.

New and rotated passwords are shown once. Serversinc does not return the same plaintext value later.

Dropping a database deletes its data. Take a backup first.