Connection String

The connection string method allows you to connect virtually any PostgreSQL database to dba.ai, including:

• Self-hosted PostgreSQL servers
• Cloud databases without dedicated integrations
• PostgreSQL-compatible databases (like CockroachDB, YugabyteDB)
• Development and testing databases

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Connection String Format

PostgreSQL connection strings follow this format:

postgresql://[username]:[password]@[host]:[port]/[database]?[parameters]

Example:

postgresql://dbuser:dbpass@localhost:5432/mydb?sslmode=require

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Prerequisites

Before connecting your database, ensure:

• Your database is accessible from the internet or through a secure tunnel
• You have valid database credentials with appropriate permissions
• The PostgreSQL port (typically 5432) is open in your firewall/security group
• SSL/TLS is properly configured if required

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Setup Instructions

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1. Create a Database User for dba.ai

For security, create a dedicated user for dba.ai with appropriate permissions:

-- Create a dedicated user with a strong password
CREATE USER dba_ai_user WITH PASSWORD 'strong-unique-password';

-- Grant minimum necessary permissions
GRANT CONNECT ON DATABASE your_database TO dba_ai_user;
GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA public TO dba_ai_user;
GRANT SELECT ON ALL TABLES IN SCHEMA public TO dba_ai_user;
GRANT SELECT ON ALL SEQUENCES IN SCHEMA public TO dba_ai_user;

-- For monitoring statistics
GRANT pg_monitor TO dba_ai_user;

-- For future tables
ALTER DEFAULT PRIVILEGES IN SCHEMA public
GRANT SELECT ON TABLES TO dba_ai_user;

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2. Configure Connection Parameters

Common connection parameters include:

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3. Build Your Connection String

Combine your database details and parameters into a connection string:

postgresql://dba_ai_user:your-password@db.example.com:5432/your_database?sslmode=require&application_name=dba_ai_monitor

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4. Add the Connection in dba.ai

1. Log in to your dba.ai account
2. Navigate to Connections > Add Connection
3. Select Connection String as the connection type
4. Paste your connection string into the field
5. Give your connection a descriptive name
6. Click Test Connection to verify
7. Click Create Connection to save

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Troubleshooting

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Connection Errors

If you experience connection issues:

• Connection refused: Check that your database is accessible and the port is open
• Authentication failed: Verify username and password are correct
• SSL required: Ensure SSL parameters match your database configuration
• Timeout: Check network connectivity and firewall rules

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Viewing Connection Details

To check your current PostgreSQL server connections:

SELECT * FROM pg_stat_activity
WHERE application_name = 'dba_ai_monitor';

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Common SSL/TLS Issues

If you’re having SSL/TLS issues:

• Certificate validation: Use sslmode=verify-ca or verify-full with proper CA certificates
• SSL not available: Ensure PostgreSQL was compiled with SSL support
• Certificate mismatch: Verify the hostname matches the certificate

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Advanced Configuration

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Connection Pooling

For high-traffic databases, consider using connection pooling:

postgresql://dba_ai_user:password@pgbouncer.example.com:6432/your_database?pool=true

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Read-Only Connections

To ensure dba.ai never modifies data, use the read-only parameter:

postgresql://dba_ai_user:password@db.example.com:5432/your_database?target_session_attrs=read-only

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Multiple Schemas

If your database uses multiple schemas, grant permissions appropriately:

GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA schema1, schema2 TO dba_ai_user;
GRANT SELECT ON ALL TABLES IN SCHEMA schema1, schema2 TO dba_ai_user;

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Security Best Practices

• Rotate the dba.ai user password regularly
• Use SSL/TLS with certificate validation
• Grant only the minimum required permissions
• Consider IP-based restrictions for additional security
• Monitor all connections from dba.ai in your database logs

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Next Steps

After connecting your database:

• Set up issue detection to monitor for problems
• Configure alert settings to get notified about critical issues
• Explore your dashboard to see your database performance