Managed Databases

Overview

Kovra Cloud provides managed PostgreSQL databases powered by CloudNativePG (CNPG). Databases are provisioned within your tenant namespace with automatic backups, encrypted credentials, and in-cluster connectivity.

Creating a PostgreSQL Database

Prerequisites

• An active Kovra Cloud tenant in ready status
• Available database quota on your plan (see limits per plan)

Via the Dashboard

1. Navigate to Databases in the sidebar
2. Click Create Managed Database
3. Enter a database name (lowercase alphanumeric with hyphens, 2-63 characters, must start with a letter)
4. Optionally select a PostgreSQL version (defaults to latest supported)
5. Click Create

Provisioning Status

The database goes through these lifecycle states:

Supported Versions

• PostgreSQL 15
• PostgreSQL 16
• PostgreSQL 17

If no version is specified, the latest supported version is used.

Naming Rules

Database names must:

• Be lowercase alphanumeric with hyphens only
• Start with a letter
• Be between 2 and 63 characters long
• Be unique within your tenant

Connecting to Your Database

Getting the Connection URL

Once the database status is ready, click on the database in the Databases page to view its detail. The connection URL is displayed on the detail page and can be copied to your clipboard.

Connection String Format

postgresql://<user>:<password>@<host>:<port>/<database>?sslmode=require

Where:

• host is the CNPG service DNS name within the Kubernetes cluster
• port is 5432
• sslmode is require (TLS enforced)

Connecting from Your Application

Set the DATABASE_URL environment variable on your application:

1. Copy the connection URL from the database detail page
2. Navigate to your application’s Variables page
3. Add a secret variable:
   • Key: DATABASE_URL
   • Value: the connection URL
   • Secret: Yes
4. Trigger a redeployment to pick up the new variable

Since both your application and database run in the same tenant namespace, connectivity is automatic via Kubernetes service DNS.

Connecting from Outside the Cluster

Databases are not exposed to the public internet. To connect from your local machine (for example, with psql or a GUI tool), you must:

1. Be on a Business or Enterprise Cloud plan
2. Enable WireGuard VPN for your tenant (see VPN / Private Access)
3. Connect via VPN, then use the internal service DNS name

Example with VPN connected:

psql "postgresql://user:password@kovra-db-a1b2c3d4-rw.kovra-abcd1234.svc.cluster.local:5432/app?sslmode=require"

Listing Databases

All your managed databases are listed on the Databases page under the Managed Databases section. Click on any database to view its details and connection URL.

Deleting a Database

To delete a database, click the delete icon on the database card or on its detail page. Deletion is asynchronous — the database transitions to deleting status while resources are cleaned up.

Warning: Deleting a database is irreversible. All data stored in the database will be permanently lost. Ensure you have backups before deleting.

Backup and Recovery

CNPG provides built-in continuous backup capabilities. Backups are managed at the platform level:

• Continuous WAL archiving ensures point-in-time recovery capability
• Scheduled base backups run automatically
• Recovery operations are handled through the platform

For self-managed backup workflows, use pg_dump via VPN connection to create logical backups.

Database Limits per Plan

Each plan includes a fixed number of databases:

When you reach your plan’s database limit, the API returns 429 Too Many Requests. To create more databases, either delete an existing database or upgrade your plan. See Billing & Usage for plan upgrade instructions.

Error Handling

Common Errors

Next Steps

• VPN / Private Access — Connect to your database from outside the cluster
• App Deployment Guide — Configure your app to use the database
• Billing & Usage — Understand database quotas and plan limits