--- title: "DBaaS FAQ" description: "Short DBaaS answers on import, users, root access, failover, billing while stopped, committed plans, snapshots, disk, time zone, and SSL." content_type: "faq" product: "database" platform: "MyAccount" url: "/myaccount/database/faq/" --- # DBaaS FAQ ## Which database engines does E2E offer? MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL. Each DBaaS instance runs one of the three. See [DBaaS engines and versions](/myaccount/database/concepts/database-engines-and-versions/). ## Can I import an existing database? Yes, into a DBaaS instance of the same engine, with the engine's own dump tool. Tables, views, and stored procedures import on every engine, and so do triggers on PostgreSQL. On MySQL and MariaDB, point every `DEFINER` at the admin user, and to import triggers and stored functions, set log_bin_trust_function_creators to 1 in a parameter group that is attached to the DBaaS instance and synced. See [Import a database into a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/import-a-database/). ## Can I create users for my applications? Yes. On every engine, the admin user creates users and grants them rights. On MySQL and MariaDB, create each user for any host, as `''@'%'`, where `` is the user's name. On PostgreSQL, create a role with `LOGIN` and grant it the rights it needs. Use the whitelist to choose which addresses can connect. See [Manage database users on a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/manage-database-users/). ## Can I get root or SUPER access? No. You get the admin user, which has broad rights on a DBaaS instance, without SUPER on MySQL and MariaDB or superuser rights on PostgreSQL. On MySQL and MariaDB the admin user creates and drops databases, tables, views, and stored procedures, reads and changes data, and creates users and grants them rights. On PostgreSQL it creates databases and roles, and creates tables, views, functions, stored procedures, and triggers. These rights are the same on MySQL 8.0, MariaDB 10.6 and 10.11, and PostgreSQL 15 and 18. See [Manage database users on a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/manage-database-users/). ## Which character set does a new database use? MySQL uses `utf8mb4` and PostgreSQL uses `UTF8`. On MariaDB, the database created with the DBaaS instance uses `utf8mb3`, and a database you create yourself gets `latin1` by default. These defaults hold on MySQL 8.0, MariaDB 10.6 and 10.11, and PostgreSQL 15 and 18. To store every language and emoji on MariaDB, name the character set when you create a database, with `` as its name: ```sql CREATE DATABASE `` CHARACTER SET utf8mb4; ``` ## Which time zone does my database use? India Standard Time. MySQL and MariaDB run on IST, and PostgreSQL runs on Asia/Kolkata, which is the same time. That is true on MySQL 8.0, MariaDB 10.6 and 10.11, and PostgreSQL 15 and 18. On MySQL 8.0 and MariaDB 10.11, a parameter group can set a different time zone, such as UTC; see [Common parameter group settings](/myaccount/parameter-group/concepts/common-parameter-group-settings/). ## Where are all the limits listed? On [DBaaS limits](/myaccount/database/concepts/database-limits/): Read Replicas, VPCs, disk size, names, passwords, snapshot windows, and alert values. ## Which regions is DBaaS available in? Delhi and Chennai. See [Create a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-a-database/). ## When does billing for a new DBaaS instance start? When the status reads **Deploying**, while the DBaaS instance finishes setting up. It reads **Running** once you can connect. See [DBaaS states](/myaccount/database/concepts/database-states/). ## Is a stopped DBaaS instance billed? Yes. A stopped DBaaS instance is billed as usual until you delete it, and so are its Read Replicas. See [Start, stop, and restart a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/start-stop-and-restart-a-database/). ## Does a committed plan renew automatically? Yes, by default. To move to hourly billing at the end of the period instead, open **Committed Settings** in the DBaaS instance's **More Actions** menu. See [Convert a DBaaS instance to a committed plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/convert-a-database-to-a-committed-plan/). ## Will I be reminded before a committed plan renews? Yes. Reminder emails arrive before the period ends, including one a day before on every plan and one three days before on every plan except the seven-day plan. Another email follows when the plan renews or switches to hourly billing. See [Convert a DBaaS instance to a committed plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/convert-a-database-to-a-committed-plan/). ## What happens if my prepaid credit is too low when a committed plan renews? The DBaaS instance moves to hourly billing instead of renewing, and you get an email saying so. To keep the committed rate, add infra credits before the end date. See [Convert a DBaaS instance to a committed plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/convert-a-database-to-a-committed-plan/). ## Does a stopped DBaaS instance on a committed plan still renew? Yes. Stopping leaves the committed plan in place, so a stopped DBaaS instance renews at the end of its period, and its billing carries on. See [Convert a DBaaS instance to a committed plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/convert-a-database-to-a-committed-plan/). ## Is a Read Replica billed separately? Yes. You pay for each Read Replica separately, on top of the primary, at its plan's hourly rate or on its own committed plan. See [Read Replicas](/myaccount/database/concepts/read-replicas/#billing). ## What happens to Read Replicas when I stop a DBaaS instance? Stopping stops the primary, and its Read Replicas keep running and billing. The stopped primary is billed too. To stop a replica's charge, delete the replica. See [Read Replicas](/myaccount/database/concepts/read-replicas/#billing). ## What happens to Read Replicas when I upgrade the plan? An upgrade resizes the primary. Existing Read Replicas keep their old plan and are billed at its rate, and a replica you add after the upgrade gets the new plan. See [Upgrade a DBaaS instance's plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/upgrade-a-database-plan-or-version/). ## Which plans can I move a DBaaS instance to? Larger ones. An upgrade moves to a plan with at least as many vCPUs and as much disk, and the DBaaS instance stays on its new plan from then on. See [Upgrade a DBaaS instance's plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/upgrade-a-database-plan-or-version/). ## Can I upgrade the engine version? No. A plan upgrade keeps the DBaaS instance on its engine version. To run a newer version, create a new DBaaS instance on that version and copy your data into it; see [Move a DBaaS instance to a newer engine version](/myaccount/database/how-to/move-to-a-newer-engine-version/) and [DBaaS engines and versions](/myaccount/database/concepts/database-engines-and-versions/). ## How many Read Replicas can a DBaaS instance have? Up to four. See [Create a Read Replica](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-a-read-replica/). ## Are snapshots billed? Yes. You pay for the storage each snapshot uses, manual or scheduled, until you delete it. See [Back up and restore a DBaaS instance with snapshots](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-and-restore-a-snapshot/). ## What time zone do snapshot schedules use? India Standard Time (IST). The windows are 12 AM to 1 AM, 8 AM to 9 AM, and 6 PM to 7 PM IST. For a Weekly or Monthly schedule where the exact day matters, choose the 8 AM or 6 PM window. See [Schedule automatic snapshots](/myaccount/database/how-to/schedule-automatic-snapshots/). ## Which snapshots does a lifecycle rule delete? A lifecycle rule deletes scheduled snapshots. The snapshots you take yourself stay until you delete them. See [Schedule automatic snapshots](/myaccount/database/how-to/schedule-automatic-snapshots/). ## Why does creating a DBaaS instance ask for more infra credits? On a prepaid account, you need enough infra credits to run the new DBaaS instance for about 24 hours. The same check applies when you add a Read Replica, restore a snapshot, or promote a replica. The message tells you how many more infra credits you need. See [Create a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-a-database/). ## How do I check free disk space? Open the DBaaS instance's **Monitoring** tab: its space utilization graph shows how full the disk is. To get an email before it fills, create an alert with the **Free Disk Space** trigger; see [Monitor a DBaaS instance and set alerts](/myaccount/database/how-to/configure-a-database-alert/). ## What happens to the disk size after I expand it? It stays at the new size for as long as the DBaaS instance exists. See [Expand a DBaaS instance's disk space](/myaccount/database/how-to/expand-database-disk-space/). ## When do I choose encryption for a DBaaS instance? You choose encryption when you create the DBaaS instance, and it stays on for as long as the DBaaS instance exists. See [DBaaS encryption and SSL](/myaccount/database/concepts/database-encryption-and-ssl/). ## Is SSL on by default? Yes, for a new DBaaS instance. SSL encrypts the connection to the DBaaS instance. On an older DBaaS instance, or one where SSL was turned off, turn it on from **Enable SSL** in the **More Actions** menu. See [Enable SSL on a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/enable-ssl-on-a-database/). ## What happens when I delete a DBaaS instance? Deleting permanently removes the DBaaS instance, every Read Replica it has, and all its snapshots. See [Delete a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/delete-a-database/). ## Can I download a snapshot? No. Snapshots stay in MyAccount, where you restore them into a new DBaaS instance; see [Back up and restore a DBaaS instance with snapshots](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-and-restore-a-snapshot/). To keep a copy of your data on your own machine, export it with the engine's dump tool, as [Import a database into a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/import-a-database/) shows. ## Is a committed plan refunded when I delete the DBaaS instance? No. The full committed cost is charged when you convert, and it stays charged when you delete the DBaaS instance before the period ends. See [Convert a DBaaS instance to a committed plan](/myaccount/database/how-to/convert-a-database-to-a-committed-plan/). ## Can a deleted DBaaS instance be restored? No. Deleting is permanent, and its snapshots go with it. To keep the data, restore a snapshot into a new DBaaS instance before you delete; see [Back up and restore a DBaaS instance with snapshots](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-and-restore-a-snapshot/). ## How is a Read Replica sized? A Read Replica is created on the same plan as its primary and keeps that plan. Upgrading the primary's plan later leaves existing replicas on their old plan. See [Read Replicas](/myaccount/database/concepts/read-replicas/). ## Can a Read Replica be in another region? Yes, between Delhi and Chennai. The primary needs SSL on, disk encryption off, and a VPC with an active peering connection to the other region. See [Create a Read Replica](/myaccount/database/how-to/create-a-read-replica/). ## Is there a limit on how many VPCs I can attach to a DBaaS instance? Yes, up to three. See [Attach a VPC to a DBaaS instance](/myaccount/database/how-to/attach-a-vpc-to-a-database/). ## Is promoting a Read Replica permanent? Yes. The new DBaaS instance stays independent of the one it came from. See [Promote a Read Replica to Master Node](/myaccount/database/how-to/promote-a-read-replica-to-master/). ## Does DBaaS fail over automatically? No. Failover is a step you take yourself: when the primary needs replacing, promote one of its Read Replicas to a DBaaS instance of its own. See [Promote a Read Replica to Master Node](/myaccount/database/how-to/promote-a-read-replica-to-master/). ## Can I move a DBaaS instance to another project? Yes. A DBaaS instance can go to any other project in your account. Before you move it, make sure it is **Running** or **Stopped**, has no VPC, parameter group, or tags attached, and none of its whitelisted IPs carries a tag. Every machine it runs on moves with it, and so does a committed plan on those machines. The instance keeps its region, plan, IP addresses, and data. The move does not restart it, and nothing is charged for it. See [Move a DBaaS instance to another project](/myaccount/database/how-to/move-a-database-to-another-project/). ## Can I move a DBaaS instance together with its parameter group? No. Each one moves on its own: detach the parameter group from the DBaaS instance, move both, then attach the group again in the new project. See [Move the parameter group too](/myaccount/database/how-to/move-a-database-to-another-project/#move-the-parameter-group-too).