Free PostgreSQL Hosting

The OVHcloud free trial for PostgreSQL hosting is part of a broader Public Cloud free trial, which typically provides a generous credit to new users for a period of one month. This credit can be applied across various Public Cloud services, including the managed PostgreSQL database offering. 

During this cloud-free trial, you gain access to the fundamental capabilities of OVHcloud's PostgreSQL solution, allowing you to deploy and test your database without immediate financial commitment.

This includes access to the OVHcloud Control Panel to manage your database instance, monitor its performance, and utilise basic features. 
While the specifics of included resources like RAM, CPU, and storage within the free credit depend on the exact instance size you provision, the aim is to provide a comprehensive experience to evaluate the service's suitability for your needs.

To begin using free PostgreSQL cloud database hosting on OVHcloud, you first need to create an OVHcloud customer account if you don't already have one. Once your account is set up, you'll typically navigate to the Public Cloud section within your OVHcloud Control Panel. 

There, you can initiate a new Public Cloud project, and the free trial credit will be automatically applied to this first project. You will be prompted to add a valid payment method, such as a credit card or PayPal, which is necessary for identity verification and for billing purposes should you continue using services beyond the free credit or trial duration. 

After your project is active and the credit applied, you can then proceed to deploy a managed PostgreSQL database instance directly from the Public Cloud Databases section of the Control Panel, selecting the desired PostgreSQL version and configuration that aligns with your testing requirements.

While the OVHcloud free PostgreSQL hosting trial provides a fully functional environment, it is generally recommended for testing, development, and proof-of-concept purposes rather than for critical production workloads.

The "Essential" plan, which is often the starting point for testing, might not include a guaranteed Service Level Agreement (SLA) or the extended backup retention periods that are typically crucial for production environments.

Furthermore, the nature of a free trial implies a finite credit and duration; running a production application on it carries the risk of service interruption once the credit is exhausted or the trial period concludes, unless a proper payment method is actively configured and monitored for continued billing.

For robust production environments, OVHcloud offers "Business" and "Enterprise" plans with higher availability, enhanced backup policies, and dedicated support, designed to meet the demands of mission-critical applications.

Yes, you can absolutely migrate your existing PostgreSQL database to OVHcloud. OVHcloud provides guidance and supports common industry practices for database migration. The typical process involves using standard PostgreSQL tools like pg_dump to export your database schema and data from your current environment, and then pg_restore to import it into your newly provisioned OVHcloud Managed PostgreSQL instance. 

Before migration, it's essential to ensure compatibility between your existing PostgreSQL version and the versions supported on OVHcloud. You will also need to consider aspects such as user roles, permissions, and any custom extensions you might be using, as these might require adjustments during the migration process to align with the managed service environment. 

OVHcloud's documentation and support resources offer detailed tutorials to guide you through a smooth transition.