How to Create and Manage Databases in Plesk

Plesk is a widely used web hosting control panel that simplifies the management of web hosting services. One of the core features of Plesk is its ability to manage databases. Databases in Plesk is essential for storing dynamic website content, user information, and other backend data. Plesk supports several database management systems (DBMS), including MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL. This guide will explain how to create and manage databases within the Plesk control panel.

Step 1: Accessing Plesk

To get started, you need to log into the Plesk control panel. This can usually be done by navigating to your domain’s Plesk URL (often something like https://yourdomain.com:8443 or https://server-ip:8443). Use your admin username and password to log in.

Step 2: Navigating to Database Management

Once logged in, you’ll be directed to the Plesk dashboard. From here:

1. Go to the “Databases” Section: On the left-hand side menu (under the “Websites & Domains” tab), you will see an option for Databases. Click on it to access the database management interface.
2. View Existing Databases: Here, you will see a list of existing databases associated with your hosting account. Plesk makes it easy to manage and configure these databases directly.

Step 3:Databases in Plesk : Creating a New Database

To create a new database, follow these steps:

1. Click on “Add Database”: In the database management section, you’ll find an “Add Database” button. Click on it to start the process of creating a new database.
2. Enter Database Details:
   • Database Name: Choose a name for your new database. Typically, it’s recommended to give it a name related to the project or website it supports (e.g., mywebsite_db).
   • Database Type: Plesk supports multiple database types. Choose the DBMS you wish to use—either MySQL/MariaDB (for most common uses) or PostgreSQL (for more advanced use cases).
   • Collation/Character Set: This defines the character encoding for the database. You can usually leave it set to the default unless you have specific needs.
3. Set Database User: After entering the database name and type, you must create a database user who will have access to the database.
   • Username and Password: Enter a username and a strong password for the database user. This user will be responsible for querying and managing the database.
   • Permissions: You can assign full privileges or limit the user to certain roles, depending on your needs.
4. Click “OK”: Once all the details are filled in, click OK or Create to finish the database creation process. The new database will now appear in the list of Databases in Plesk.

Step 4: Databases in Plesk Managing Databases

Once you’ve created a database, you can perform various tasks to manage and interact with it.

Managing Users and Permissions

1. Add Database Users: If you need to add additional users to a database, click on the database name and then navigate to the Database Users tab. Here you can add more users and assign specific permissions (like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) to each user.
2. Modify Permissions: You can also modify permissions for existing users. For example, you may want to grant more privileges to an admin user or revoke access to a certain user.
3. Delete Users: If you need to remove a user, select the user from the database users list and click the Delete button.

Backup and Restore Databases

Databases in Plesk offers built-in options to backup and restore your databases. These are useful in case of data corruption or if you want to migrate the database to another server.

1. Backup: To back up a database, go to the Databases tab and select the database you wish to back up. You will typically find an option to Backup. You can schedule backups or download the backup file directly.
2. Restore: If you need to restore a database from a backup, select the backup file and choose the restore option. Plesk will guide you through the restoration process.

Accessing and Editing Databases

1. phpMyAdmin: One of the most popular tools for managing MySQL or MariaDB databases is phpMyAdmin. Plesk provides a link to phpMyAdmin for each database you create. This tool allows you to execute SQL queries, browse database tables, and perform maintenance tasks.
   • To access phpMyAdmin, click on the database name in the database management section, then click the phpMyAdmin button. You will be redirected to the phpMyAdmin interface, where you can manage the database.
2. phpPgAdmin: For PostgreSQL databases, Plesk provides access to phpPgAdmin, a similar interface to phpMyAdmin but designed for PostgreSQL. The steps to access it are the same as for MySQL/MariaDB databases.

Database Repair and Optimization

1. Repair: In case of database corruption or errors, Plesk provides options to repair the database. In the database management section, you can run repair commands via phpMyAdmin or use the Repair Database feature if available for your DBMS.
2. Optimize: You can also optimize your databases to improve performance. Plesk’s database management interface may include an option to Optimize databases, which reorganizes the structure of the database to make it more efficient.

Step 5: Deleting Databases

If you need to delete a database, simply go to the Databases tab, select the database you want to remove, and click Remove. This will delete the database and all associated data, so make sure to back up any important data before proceeding.

Conclusion

Managing databases in Plesk is straightforward and efficient. The platform’s intuitive interface and built-in tools, such as phpMyAdmin and automated backups, make it easy to handle database tasks even for users with limited technical experience. By following the steps outlined above, you can create, manage, and maintain your databases with ease, ensuring your websites and applications run smoothly.