Plesk Obsidian provides a robust and intuitive interface for managing your website databases. This guide will walk you through the essential steps for creating, configuring, and removing databases, along with managing associated user accounts directly from your control panel.
Creating and Configuring Databases
You can efficiently create and manage your databases by navigating to the Websites & Domains section, then selecting Databases. This central location allows for streamlined database administration.
How to Create a New Database
To establish a new database, you will typically begin by specifying a unique name. Depending on your subscription's permissions, you may also have the flexibility to choose a specific database type (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and select the database server where it will reside. This ensures your database environment is tailored to your application's requirements.
An important feature is the ability to select a website with which the database will be associated, using the Related site option. This functionality is particularly useful for users managing numerous websites and databases, as it provides an immediate visual link between a database and its corresponding site directly on the Databases page, enhancing organization and ease of management.
Managing Database User Accounts
Accessing any database requires at least one user account to be associated with it. Without a designated user, the database remains inaccessible. Plesk Obsidian offers two primary methods for creating and associating database users:
Creating Database Users
- During Database Creation: When setting up a new database, you have the option to simultaneously create a new database user by checking the Create a database user box. This integrates the user creation process seamlessly with database setup.
- Using Existing Accounts: Alternatively, you can associate an existing user account with the database at a later stage. This provides flexibility, especially if you wish to reuse credentials or manage users independently. For comprehensive details on user management, refer to the official documentation on Database User Accounts.
Granting Database Access Permissions
To enable a database user to access multiple databases within your subscription, select the User has access to all databases within the selected subscription option. This streamlines access management for users who require broad permissions across your hosted applications, making it simpler to assign roles without repetitive steps for each database.
Security Note: Granting broad access should be done with caution. Always adhere to the principle of least privilege, providing users with only the necessary permissions to perform their tasks to enhance your overall server security.
Furthermore, if your permissions allow, you can define highly specific access control rules for individual database users. This granular control is crucial for maintaining robust security and ensuring that users only have the necessary privileges for specific operations (e.g., read-only access, specific table permissions). More information on configuring these advanced settings can be found in the guide on Setting Up Custom Access Rules.
Removing Existing Databases
To remove a database from your Plesk environment, navigate to Websites & Domains > Databases. Under the specific database you wish to delete, click the Remove Database link.
Important Consideration: It is crucial to note that only databases and database users not actively utilized by installed APS applications can be removed directly. If the "Remove Database" link is not visible or appears disabled for a particular database, it signifies that the database is currently in use by an application. In such cases, the database can only be removed by uninstalling its corresponding application first. This protective measure prevents accidental data loss and ensures application stability.
