Managed Databases Guide: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB & Redis | Nife

Deploy and manage fully-managed databases with automatic backups, high availability, and intelligent scaling.

Getting Started with Databases#

Deploy your first managed database in minutes:

Databases Overview - Understand database options and benefits
Creating Databases - Create your first database
Connecting to Databases - Connect your applications
Managing Databases - Monitor and scale your database
Backup & Recovery - Protect your data

Supported Databases#

Deploy any of these popular database engines:

PostgreSQL 🐘#

Advanced relational database with powerful features

Best for: Complex queries, enterprise applications, analytics
Versions: 16.1, 15.6, 14.11, 13.14
Use: ACID compliance, advanced features, complex joins

MySQL 🐬#

Popular relational database for web applications

Best for: Web apps, LAMP stack, content management
Versions: 8.0.35, 8.0.34, 5.7.44
Use: WordPress, Drupal, traditional web applications

MariaDB 🌲#

MySQL-compatible open-source database

Best for: MySQL compatibility, modern features
Versions: 11.2.2, 10.11.6, 10.6.16
Use: MySQL migration, backward compatibility

MongoDB 📄#

Flexible document database for modern applications

Best for: Document data, flexible schema, real-time apps
Versions: 7.0.5, 6.0.13, 5.0.24
Use: Content management, user profiles, logs, JSON data

Redis ⚡#

In-memory data store for caching and real-time features

Best for: Caching, sessions, real-time analytics
Versions: 7.2.4, 7.0.15, 6.2.14
Use: Cache layer, session storage, real-time applications

Key Features#

✅ Automatic Backups#

Daily backups included
Point-in-time recovery (7 days)
7-30 day retention
Geo-redundant storage

✅ High Availability#

99.9% uptime SLA
Automatic failover
Multi-zone replication
Redundancy built-in

✅ Secure#

SSL/TLS encryption
Encrypted at rest (AES-256)
Access control & IAM
Audit logs for compliance

✅ Auto-Scaling#

Vertical scaling (CPU/Memory)
Horizontal scaling (Storage)
No downtime scaling
Automatic performance tuning

✅ Fully Managed#

Automatic patching
Version updates
Performance monitoring
Security updates included

Database Lifecycle#

1. Create Database#

Choose database type, configure storage and region

2. Connect Applications#

Get connection details and connect your apps

3. Monitor Performance#

Track metrics and optimize queries

4. Scale Resources#

Increase storage or compute as needed

5. Backup & Recovery#

Automated backups + point-in-time recovery

6. Archive & Delete#

Optional: Archive data and delete when done

Quick Start#

Step 1: Create Database#

Go to Databases → Create Database
Choose database type (PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.)
Configure storage size (5-100 GB)
Select region
Set root password
Deploy

Step 2: Get Connection Details#

- Hostname: db-xxx.database.nifetency.com
- Port: 5432 (PostgreSQL), 3306 (MySQL)
- Username: root
- Password: Your secure password

Step 3: Connect Your App#

// Node.js example
const { Pool } = require('pg');
const pool = new Pool({
  host: process.env.DB_HOST,
  port: process.env.DB_PORT,
  user: process.env.DB_USER,
  password: process.env.DB_PASSWORD,
  database: process.env.DB_NAME,
});

Step 4: Monitor & Scale#

Monitor performance metrics
Scale storage when reaching 70%
Enable automatic updates
Regular backup testing

Frequently Asked Questions#

Q: Are backups automatic?#

A: Yes, daily automatic backups are included. You also get point-in-time recovery for the last 7 days.

Q: How much does it cost?#

A: Pricing is based on storage size and compute resources. Check our pricing page for current rates.

Q: Can I change the database version?#

A: Yes, you can upgrade to newer versions. Some downgrades may be possible depending on compatibility.

Q: Is my data encrypted?#

A: Yes, data is encrypted in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest using AES-256 encryption.

Q: Can I scale my database?#

A: Yes, you can increase CPU, memory, and storage anytime without downtime.

Q: What's the uptime guarantee?#

A: We guarantee 99.9% uptime SLA for all managed databases.

Q: How do I migrate existing data?#

A: You can import from SQL dumps, use replication, or restore from backups. See Creating Databases guide.

Q: Which database should I choose?#

A: PostgreSQL is recommended for most use cases. Choose MongoDB for document data, MySQL for WordPress, Redis for caching.

Q: Can I have multiple databases?#

A: Yes, create as many databases as you need. Each has independent backups and scaling.

Q: How long do backups keep?#

A: Automatic backups kept 7-30 days. Manual backups kept as long as you specify. Exported backups stored indefinitely.

Connection Methods#

Connection String#

PostgreSQL: postgresql://root:pass@hostname:5432/database
MySQL: mysql://root:pass@hostname:3306/database
MongoDB: mongodb://root:pass@hostname:27017/database
Redis: redis://root:pass@hostname:6379

Environment Variables#

export DB_HOST="db-prod.nifetency.com"
export DB_PORT="5432"
export DB_USER="root"
export DB_PASSWORD="secure-password"
export DB_NAME="myapp"

Docker Compose#

services:
  app:
    environment:
      DB_HOST: db-prod.nifetency.com
      DB_PORT: 5432
      DB_USER: root
      DB_PASSWORD: secure-password

Connection Pooling#

Reuse connections for better performance and lower resource usage

Performance Optimization#

Monitor Key Metrics#

CPU usage (target: < 70%)
Memory usage (target: < 70%)
Disk usage (target: < 80%)
Query performance (identify slow queries)

Optimization Tips#

Add indexes to frequently queried columns
Optimize slow queries using EXPLAIN
Archive old data regularly
Enable connection pooling
Use read replicas for heavy read workloads

Scaling Strategy#

Start small: 5-10 GB for most projects
Monitor growth: Track disk/CPU usage
Scale early: Don't wait until limits
Test scaling: Use staging before production
Plan replicas: For high availability

Security Best Practices#

1. Access Control#

Change default passwords immediately
Use strong, complex passwords
Create app-specific users (not root)
Enable SSL/TLS for all connections

2. Network Security#

Use VPC/private networks when possible
Whitelist application IPs
Enable firewall rules
Audit access logs

3. Data Protection#

Enable encryption at rest
Use SSL for all connections
Regular backup testing
Comply with regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.)

4. Monitoring & Alerts#

Monitor connection count
Alert on high CPU/memory
Track slow queries
Review audit logs

Database Comparison#

Feature	PostgreSQL	MySQL	MongoDB	Redis
Type	Relational	Relational	Document	Key-Value
Use Case	Complex queries	Web apps	Flexible data	Caching
ACID	✅ Full	✅ Full	✅ 4.0+	❌ No
Transactions	✅ Full	✅ Full	✅ Full	⚠️ Limited
Schema	Fixed	Fixed	Flexible	N/A
Learning Curve	Moderate	Easy	Easy	Very easy

Quick Links#

Guides#

Creating Databases - Complete setup guide
Connecting to Databases - Connection examples
Managing Databases - Operations guide
Backup & Recovery - Data protection

Tools & Resources#

DBeaver - Free database client (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
MongoDB Compass - Official MongoDB GUI
Redis Desktop Manager - Redis client
RedisInsight - Official Redis UI

Support#

Need help with databases?

Documentation: Check the guides above
FAQ: See frequently asked questions section
Status: Check Nife Status Page
Contact: [email protected]
Community: Join our OpenHub community

What's Next?#

Ready to get started? Follow these steps:

Create your first database - 5 minutes
Connect your application - 10 minutes
Set up monitoring - 5 minutes
Test backup & recovery - 15 minutes

Estimated total time: 35 minutes to production-ready database!