Databases
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:
Database Name
The unique name of your database
Instance Type
The resource tier allocated for the database
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:
Click the "Create Database" button in the Database Dashboard
Select a database type
Choose between v1 and v2
Configure the database parameters
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:
Production ready ( V1) with longer backups, high availability and includes monitoring, topology and other faetures.
Sandboxes(V2) - development ready, easy and quick deployment and not preferred to use for production. Cheaper than v1, and DO NOT support high availability, have limited backups.
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 Sandbox 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:
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 V1 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
Sandboxes server deployments include 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:
Go to the Backups tab in your database details
Click "Take Manual Backup"
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:
Go to the Backups tab in your database details
Find the backup you want to restore
Click the "Restore" button
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 V1 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:
Go to the Settings tab in your database details
Select a new instance type
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:
Create a backup of your current database
Create a new database with the desired version
Restore your data to the new database
Switch your application to the new database
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. Contact [email protected] for additional help.
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. In Sandbox instances, scale-down MAY NOT be possible beacuse of fixed disk size which cannot be reduced.
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?
Ans: Database server deployments may take upto 30 minutes in deployments.
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: The system will automatically attempt to restart the database. If issues persist, you can restore from a backup or contact support [email protected].
For additional assistance, please contact our support team.
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