Database with PostgreSQL FAQ

General questions

What is a managed PostgreSQL service?

A managed PostgreSQL service offers a hands-off approach to database deployment, maintenance, and management. Users benefit from automated backups, updates, and scaling without manual intervention, ensuring they can focus on application development rather than database administration.

How does a managed PostgreSQL service differ from a traditional PostgreSQL installation?

With a managed service, security and all the administrative tasks such as backups, patching, scaling are handled by the service provider. In a traditional installation, these responsibilities fall on the user or the internal IT team.

How does OCI-managed PostgreSQL service differ from other managed service?

OCI Database with PostgreSQL is distinguished by its database optimized storage technology. Our unique approach of decoupling compute from storage not only delivers superior performance compared to competitors with OCI Database Optimized Storage, but also ensures faster recovery. It promises unparalleled reliability and durability, ensuring immediate data protection and swift recovery with a low RTO.

Is there any downtime during scaling or maintenance operations?

OCI Database with PostgreSQL is designed to minimize downtime. Some maintenance operations, including critical updates, can require a brief interruption. Choose a maintenance schedule to avoid peak activity; Oracle can also select the maintenance schedule for you.

Which version of PostgreSQL is currently supported by OCI Database with PostgreSQL?

OCI Database with PostgreSQL supports current PostgreSQL major versions. For the authoritative list of supported versions and upgrade guidance, see the PostgreSQL versions and upgrades documentation.

What are the PostgreSQL extensions supported?

The current list of PostgreSQL extensions supported by the service can be found here. The current list of PostgreSQL extensions supported by the service includes pgvector, pg_stat_statements, PostGIS, postgres_fdw, pglogical, and more. These extensions allow you to leverage advanced functionalities, such as AI/ML integration, geospatial data processing, and seamless data federation.

What new features have been added in the latest OCI Database with PostgreSQL release?

The latest release includes several new features:

• Cross-region warm standby: Maintain a continuously updated, read-only standby database system in another region for disaster recovery.
• Point-in-time recovery: Create a new database system at a specific earlier time stamp to recover from accidental deletions, incorrect deployments, or other logical and operational errors.
• In-console Query Insights: Use in-console visibility into top queries, wait events, and active sessions to identify bottlenecks and support query tuning and capacity planning.
• Start/stop database systems: Stop database systems for intermittent workloads to halt compute billing while preserving storage and network configuration, then start them again when needed.
• Kerberos authentication: Use PostgreSQL GSSAPI-based Kerberos authentication for centralized credential management and single sign-on.

Security and high availability

How do you ensure the security of my data?

Oracle secures data with VPC network isolation, encryption in transit and at rest, and routine security updates. OCI Identity and Access Management integration manages administrative functions and creates an initial database admin role, which enables further permission management within the database system.

Is data replication included, and how do you handle failovers?

For high availability within a region, deploy multiple nodes and read replicas; the service can promote a replica after a fault. For cross-region disaster recovery, use Replication with Warm Standby to maintain a continuously updated, read-only standby database system in another region.

Do you provide automated backups, and how long are they retained?

Schedule automated backups daily, weekly, or monthly, with retention of up to 35 days. You can also automatically copy backups to another region for disaster recovery. Manual backups can be retained indefinitely. For recovery from logical or operational errors, point-in-time recovery creates a new database system at a selected time stamp within the configured recovery window.

How do Network Security Groups (NSGs) improve the security of my PostgreSQL database?

Network Security Groups act as virtual firewalls, enabling you to define and manage the security rules that control the flow of traffic to and from your PostgreSQL database within a virtual cloud network (VCN). This feature simplifies the management of network security and enhances the protection of your data by grouping resources under a common security posture.

Application development

How can I integrate my application with your managed PostgreSQL service?

Integration is straightforward. Once your database is set up, you'll receive connection details that can be plugged into your application's configuration. We offer SDK/APIs for management of database systems, configurations, and backups.

Is there a limit on the number of connections to the database?

We provide a generous connection limit suitable for most applications. Default connection limits are provided via default configuration of a shape (OCPU and memory). You can also create custom configurations with different connection limit and apply those configurations either during creation of database system or you can modify an existing database system.

Pricing and billing

How is the pricing determined for the managed PostgreSQL service?

Pricing is based on the storage, compute resources, and additional features you choose. Our transparent pricing model ensures you only pay for what you use, with no hidden fees.

Are there any additional costs for data transfer or backups?

Data transfer in and out of the database within the same region is included in the base price. However, cross-region or external data transfers may incur additional charges. Backups will incur a standard OCI Object Storage charge based on the size and retention time. After backup retention time, the backup would be deleted, and there will be no further charge for that backup.

What payment methods do you accept, and how often will I be billed?

We accept all major credit cards and bank transfers. Billing occurs monthly, with detailed breakdowns of resource usage and any additional charges provided in the invoice.