How to Create a PostgreSQL Database on Zenifra via Console

Prerequisites

To create a database on Zenifra, you need:

A created and verified account
Logged into the console

Accessing Project Creation

In the console sidebar, click + Create Project.

Step 1: Choose Project Type

Zenifra offers different application types for deployment:

HTTP Application

If you need to host a web application, check our tutorial on how to create an HTTP project.

PostgreSQL Database

Creates a managed PostgreSQL database on Zenifra, with no need to configure or maintain the server.

What's included:

Managed PostgreSQL with stable versions
Automatic failover for projects with more than 1 instance
Additional instances for high availability
Connection configuration via URI string or individual parameters

Available settings:

Setting	Description
PostgreSQL Version	Choose the version (e.g., 15, 16, 17, and 18)

Connection:

After creation, you will receive the connection string in this format:

postgres://username:password@host:port/database_name

Tip: Use this string in your HTTP application's DATABASE_URL environment variable to connect to the database.

Step 2: Select Plan

Plans define the available resources and pricing for your database. Each plan offers different levels of:

CPU, Memory, and GPU
Free storage (if available)
Instances for high availability

Payment Models

Choose how you want to pay for your project:

Model	Description	Ideal for
Hourly	Pay-per-hour usage. The instance is charged only while the database is active.	Intermittent use projects, testing, development
Monthly	Fixed monthly price. Instance reserved for 30 days.	Applications that need to be always available
Yearly	Annual terms according to the active offer. Instance reserved for long-term projects.	Long-term projects

Important: Database storage is persistent and is always charged, even when the database is stopped. The only thing not charged while the database is inactive is the instance cost!

Tip: With hourly payment, if your database runs for only 10 minutes in the month, you only pay for 1 hour of instance!

Step 3: Configure Basic Information

Project Name

The name is used for:

Identifying your database on the dashboard
Creating automatic subdomains

Name rules:

Minimum: 6 characters
Maximum: 32 characters
Only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens
Example: my-database, production-db

Description

Optional field to add information about the project. Helps organize and identify projects when you have multiple ones.

Step 4: Configure the Database

PostgreSQL Version

Choose the PostgreSQL version you want to use:

PostgreSQL 15
PostgreSQL 16
PostgreSQL 17
PostgreSQL 18

Recommendation: For new projects, it is recommended to use the latest version (18) to ensure access to the latest features and security fixes.

Database User

Name of the database administrator user.

Database Password

Password for database access.

Important: Choose a strong password and keep it in a safe place. You will need it to connect to the database.

Database Name

Name of the database to be created.

Step 5: Configure Instances

Number of Instances

Total number of database instances:

1 instance: Ideal for testing or development
3 instances: Recommended for production with automatic failover and data consistency

Recommendation:

Production: Use 3 instances to ensure automatic failover if an instance has issues, and to guarantee data consistency.

Testing/Development: Use 1 instance to reduce costs.

Step 6: Configure Storage

Storage Capacity

Minimum: 1 GB
Maximum: 250 GB

Warning: For hourly payment models, storage can only be increased, never decreased. For monthly or yearly contracts, storage cannot be modified after project creation.

Important: Database storage is charged even when the project is stopped (not running).

Step 7: Complete Creation

Review all configurations
Click "Create Project"
Wait a few seconds for creation

After Creation

You will receive:

Project ID: Unique identifier for your database
Connection String: Complete URI to connect to the database

Keep the connection string in a safe place! It contains your database credentials.

Next Steps

FAQ

Can I change the plan after creating the database?

Depends. If the payment model is hourly, you can change the plan at any time. For monthly or yearly contracts, changes are only allowed at the end of the contract period.

How do I connect to the database?

Use the connection string provided after creation. You can connect via:

Web applications (Node.js, Python, Java, etc.)
PostgreSQL clients (pgAdmin, DBeaver, etc.)
Command line (psql)

Can I have multiple databases?

Yes! You can create multiple database projects on the same account. Each database is billed independently.

How do I back up my database?

You can export data using tools like pg_dump or by connecting directly to the database and exporting the necessary data.

What happens if the primary instance fails?

For projects with more than 1 instance, automatic failover occurs:

A secondary instance becomes primary
A new secondary instance is created automatically
Your application continues working without manual intervention

How do I delete a database?

Go to the specific project page
Click Delete
Confirm the action

Warning: This action is irreversible! All data and configurations will be permanently deleted. Back up your data before deleting.

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