Database Management

Deploy and manage PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, and Redis databases on Dokploy

Dokploy provides built-in support for deploying and managing popular database systems. Each database runs as a Docker container with persistent storage, automated backups, and easy configuration through the UI.

Supported Databases

PostgreSQL

Open-source relational database with advanced features

MySQL

Popular open-source relational database management system

MariaDB

MySQL-compatible database with enhanced features

MongoDB

Document-oriented NoSQL database for modern applications

Redis

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

Common Features

All database services in Dokploy share these capabilities:

Quick Deployment

Deploy databases in seconds with sensible defaults. Each database is deployed as a Docker service with:

• Automatic volume mounting for data persistence
• Pre-configured default ports
• Environment-based organization
• Resource limits and reservations

Connection Management

Internal Access

Applications within the same Dokploy environment can connect using internal DNS:

# Format: <app-name>:<internal-port>
postgres-prod:5432
mysql-app:3306

External Access

Expose databases externally by configuring an external port:

host.example.com:54321

Only expose databases externally when necessary. Use firewall rules to restrict access.

Resource Management

Control database resource usage through the UI:

• Memory Reservation: Minimum memory guaranteed to the database
• Memory Limit: Maximum memory the database can use
• CPU Reservation: Minimum CPU cores allocated
• CPU Limit: Maximum CPU cores available

Resources are specified in Docker format:

• Memory: 256MB, 1GB, 2GB
• CPU: 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 (cores)

Volume Management

Each database automatically creates a Docker volume for data persistence:

Database	Mount Path	Volume Name Pattern
PostgreSQL	Varies by version	{appName}-data
MySQL	/var/lib/mysql	{appName}-data
MariaDB	/var/lib/mysql	{appName}-data
MongoDB	/data/db	{appName}-data
Redis	/data	{appName}-data

Environment Variables

Add custom environment variables to configure database behavior:

# Example for PostgreSQL
POSTGRES_MAX_CONNECTIONS=200
POSTGRES_SHARED_BUFFERS=256MB

# Example for MySQL
MYSQL_MAX_CONNECTIONS=150
MYSQL_INNODB_BUFFER_POOL_SIZE=512M

Database Operations

Lifecycle Management

Manage database state through the UI:

1. Deploy

   Initial deployment pulls the Docker image and starts the container with your configuration.

2. Start/Stop

   Control database availability without losing data. Stopped databases retain all data in volumes.

3. Reload

   Restart the database to apply configuration changes or clear temporary state.

4. Rebuild

   Completely rebuild the database container while preserving data volumes.

Moving Between Environments

Move databases between environments (dev, staging, production) while preserving:

• Database credentials
• Environment variables
• Volume mounts
• Resource limits

Moving a database does not migrate the data itself. You’ll need to backup and restore data separately.

Docker Image Selection

Dokploy allows you to specify custom Docker images for each database:

# Default images
postgres:18
mysql:8
mariadb:6
mongo:15
redis:8

# Custom versions
postgres:16-alpine
mysql:8.0.35
mongo:7.0

Advanced Configuration

Custom Commands and Arguments

Override the default container command or add arguments:

# Command
postgres

# Arguments
-c max_connections=200
-c shared_buffers=256MB

Docker Swarm Settings

For production deployments, configure advanced Docker Swarm options:

• Health Checks: Monitor database health and automatic restarts
• Restart Policies: Define restart behavior on failures
• Placement Constraints: Control which nodes run the database
• Update/Rollback Config: Configure rolling updates
• Resource Limits: Set hard limits with ulimits

Security Best Practices

Password Requirements

Database passwords cannot contain certain special characters:

• Avoid: $ ! ' " \ / and spaces
• Use: a-zA-Z0-9@#%^&*()_+-=[]{}|;:,.<>?~

These restrictions ensure compatibility across all database systems.

Recommendations

1. Use strong passwords: Generate random passwords for production databases
2. Limit external access: Only expose databases externally when required
3. Regular backups: Configure automated backups to protect your data
4. Resource limits: Set appropriate limits to prevent resource exhaustion
5. Monitor logs: Check container logs regularly for errors or security issues

Next Steps

Database Backups

Set up automated backups and restore procedures

PostgreSQL Setup

Deploy your first PostgreSQL database