Databases

Database Service User Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Dashboard Overview

3. Creating a Database

   • Database Types

   • Deployment Options

4. Configuring Your Database

   • Basic Configuration

   • Server Configuration

   • Database Configuration

   • Backup Configuration

5. Database Details

   • Overview Tab

   • Monitoring Tab

   • Backups Tab

   • Settings Tab

6. Monitoring Your Database

   • Resource Metrics

   • Database Logs

7. Database Backups

   • Backup Schedules

   • Manual Backups

   • Restoring from Backup

8. Database Security

   • Private vs. Public Databases

   • Password Management

9. Maintenance and Upgrades

   • Scaling Resources

   • Version Upgrades

10. Troubleshooting

11. FAQ

Introduction

PandaStack's Database Service provides fully managed database solutions that can be easily deployed, monitored, and managed through a simple interface. Our service supports multiple database engines, deployment models, and comprehensive monitoring and backup features to ensure your data remains safe and accessible.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating, configuring, monitoring, and managing your databases on the PandaStack platform.

Dashboard Overview

The Database Dashboard provides a central location to view and manage all your database deployments. Here you can:

• See a list of all your deployed databases

• Monitor database status at a glance

• Quickly access database details, logs, and metrics

• Create new databases

• Manage existing databases

• Set up monitoring and backups

Each database instance displays key information:

Column	Description
Database Name	The unique name of your database
Instance Type	The resource tier allocated for the database
DB Name	The name of the default database created
Type	Database engine (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis)
Status	Current status of the database (running, failed, deploying, etc.)
Created By	User who created the database
Version	Database engine version
Actions	Quick access to management options

Creating a Database

To create a new database:

1. Click the "Create Database" button in the Database Dashboard

2. Select a database type

3. Choose between container-based or dedicated server deployment

4. Configure the database parameters

5. Deploy the database

Database Types

Our platform supports the following database engines:

• PostgreSQL: Advanced, standards-compliant relational database

• MySQL: Popular relational database with strong reliability

• MongoDB: NoSQL document database for flexible data models

• Redis: In-memory data structure store for caching and real-time applications

Each database type has specific configuration options and version choices available.

Deployment Options

When creating a database, you'll need to choose between two deployment models:

Container vs. Dedicated Server

Feature	Container Deployment	Dedicated Server (V2)
Description	Deploy in a container on shared infrastructure	Deploy on a dedicated server with full control
Performance	Good for development and moderate workloads	Better for production and high-performance needs
Isolation	Runs on shared infrastructure	Complete isolation on dedicated hardware
Scaling	Limited by container resources	Can be scaled up to larger server types
Customization	Limited customization options	Full control over database configuration
Pricing	More cost-effective for smaller workloads	Higher cost but better performance
Regions	Multiple regions available	US, EU, and Asia regions available

Select the deployment model that best fits your application's requirements and budget.

Configuring Your Database

Basic Configuration

When creating a database, you'll need to provide:

• Name: A unique name for your database (lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only)

  • Note: A random 6-character suffix will be added to ensure uniqueness

• Description: Brief description of the database purpose

• Version: The version of the database engine to deploy

• Region: Geographic region for deployment (US, EU, or Asia)

For non-Redis databases, you'll also need:

• Username: Admin username for database access

• DB Name: Name of the default database to create

For all databases:

• Password: Secure password for database access

• Visibility: Public or private access

Server Configuration

For dedicated server (V2) deployments, you'll need to select:

• Server Location: Choose from US, EU, or Asia regions

• Server Size: Select a server specification based on your needs:

Server Size	Specifications	Recommended Use Cases
PS-01	2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 40 GB SSD	Development, testing, small apps
PS-02	3 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB SSD	Small production apps
PS-03	4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 160 GB SSD	Medium workloads
PS-04	8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB SSD	High traffic applications
PS-05	16 vCPU, 32 GB RAM, 360 GB SSD	Enterprise applications

For container deployments, you'll select from:

• Instance Type: Choose from Free, Standard, Compute, or Memory tiers:

  • Free Tier: Limited resources, suitable for development

  • Standard Tier: Balanced resources for general use

  • Compute Series: Optimized for compute-intensive workloads

  • Memory Series: Optimized for memory-intensive workloads

Database Configuration

Configure database-specific settings:

• Database Name: Name of the default database to create

• Admin Username: Username for the database administrator account

• Admin Password: Password for the database administrator account

Backup Configuration

Configure database backup settings:

• Backup Status: Enable or disable automated backups

• Backup Frequency: Daily, weekly, or monthly backups

• Retention Period: Number of days to retain backups (based on your plan)

Database Details

Once your database is created, you can access detailed information and management options through the database details page.

Overview Tab

The Overview tab provides key information about your database:

• Database Information: Basic details like name, type, version, and status

• Connection Information: Connection URLs for your database

• Server Information: Resources allocated to your database

• Root Credentials: Access to view and manage database root credentials

Monitoring Tab

The Monitoring tab displays real-time and historical metrics for your database:

• CPU Usage: CPU utilization over time

• Memory Usage: Memory usage in MB

• Disk Usage: Storage utilization in GB

• Active Connections: Number of active database connections

You can adjust the time range to view metrics for different periods (1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days).

Backups Tab

The Backups tab allows you to manage database backups:

• View existing backups

• Trigger manual backups

• Restore from backups

• Configure backup schedules

• See recent backup jobs and their status

Settings Tab

The Settings tab provides options to configure your database:

• Instance Type: Change the resources allocated to your database

• Visibility: Toggle between public and private access

• Backup Status: Enable or disable automated backups

• Connection Strings: View and copy database connection strings

Monitoring Your Database

Resource Metrics

PandaStack provides comprehensive monitoring for your databases, including:

• CPU Usage: Monitor CPU utilization to identify performance bottlenecks

• Memory Usage: Track memory consumption to ensure optimal performance

• Disk Usage: Monitor storage growth to avoid running out of space

• Active Connections: Track the number of active connections to your database

Each metric is displayed in an interactive chart that allows you to:

• Zoom in on specific time periods

• View detailed values at specific points

• Identify trends and patterns in resource usage

Database Logs

Database logs provide insights into the operation of your database:

• View real-time logs for your database

• Identify errors and warnings

• Monitor database activity

Custom Metrics

Dedicated server deployments include additional monitoring capabilities:

• Database-specific metrics: Engine-specific metrics for your database type

Database Backups

Backup Schedules

Configure automated backup schedules based on your needs:

• Daily backups: Ideal for most production databases

• Weekly backups: Suitable for less critical databases

• Monthly backups: Minimum recommendation for any database

Backup retention periods vary based on your plan:

• Free plan: 7 days retention

• Pro plan: 30 days retention

• Premium plan: 90 days retention

Manual Backups

In addition to scheduled backups, you can create manual backups:

1. Go to the Backups tab in your database details

2. Click "Take Manual Backup"

3. Wait for the backup to complete

Manual backups are useful before major changes or updates to your database.

Restoring from Backup

To restore from a backup:

1. Go to the Backups tab in your database details

2. Find the backup you want to restore

3. Click the "Restore" button

4. Confirm the restoration

Note: Restoring a backup will overwrite the current database. This operation cannot be undone.

Database Security

Private vs. Public Databases

PandaStack offers two visibility options for your databases:

• Private: Only accessible within your PandaStack organization

  • Use the private connection URL when connecting from your container projects

  • More secure for production databases

• Public: Accessible from the internet

  • Use the public connection URL when connecting from outside PandaStack

  • Requires proper security measures like strong passwords and SSL

Password Management

Manage database passwords securely:

• Root Password: View and manage the database root password

• Password Storage: All passwords are encrypted at rest

Maintenance and Upgrades

Scaling Resources

As your application grows, you may need to allocate more resources to your database:

1. Go to the Settings tab in your database details

2. Select a new instance type

3. Apply the changes

Note: Scaling operations may cause short periods of downtime.

Version Upgrades

Database engines regularly release new versions with improvements and security fixes. To upgrade your database version:

1. Create a backup of your current database

2. Create a new database with the desired version

3. Restore your data to the new database

4. Switch your application to the new database

5. Delete the old database when no longer needed

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Connection Issues

• Problem: Unable to connect to database

• Solution: Verify the connection string and credentials

• Solution: Check if database is running

• Solution: Verify network connectivity and firewall settings

Performance Issues

• Problem: Slow query performance

• Solution: Check resource utilization in Monitoring tab

• Solution: Consider scaling up resources

• Solution: Optimize database queries and indexes

Backup Issues

• Problem: Backup creation fails

• Solution: Verify sufficient disk space

• Solution: Check database logs for errors

• Solution: Contact support if issues persist

FAQ

Q: How do I connect to my database from my application? A: Use the connection URLs provided in the database details page. For private databases, use the private URL when connecting from within PandaStack. For public databases, use the public URL when connecting from outside.

Q: Can I change my database type after creation? A: No, the database type cannot be changed after creation. You would need to create a new database and migrate your data.

Q: What happens if my database runs out of disk space? A: When disk usage approaches 90%, you'll receive notifications. If the database reaches 100% disk usage, it may become unavailable. Consider scaling up to a larger instance type or cleaning up unnecessary data.

Q: How do I scale my database as my application grows? A: You can scale your database by going to the Settings tab and selecting a larger instance type. For container deployments, you can switch to a higher tier. For dedicated servers, you can select a larger server size.

Q: Are my database backups encrypted? A: Yes, all backups are encrypted both in transit and at rest.

Q: How long does it take to create a new database? A: Container deployments typically take 1-3 minutes. Dedicated server deployments may take 5-10 minutes.

Q: Can I have multiple databases in one instance? A: Yes, you can create multiple databases within a single database instance. Use the database client tools to create additional databases after deployment.

Q: What happens if my database crashes? A: For dedicated servers, the system will automatically attempt to restart the database. If issues persist, you can restore from a backup or contact support.

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For additional assistance, please contact our support team.