Azure server management

The PostgreSQL extension for Visual Studio Code lets you manage supported Azure Database for PostgreSQL resources directly from Visual Studio Code. After you connect to an Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server, you can open the server dashboard to control the server lifecycle, manage network access, change parameters, create or restore backups, clone the server, and download captured logs. Azure HorizonDB (Preview) connections support a smaller Network Configuration page for firewall rules.

Open Azure management pages

1. In the Connections tree, connect to the Azure Database for PostgreSQL resource that you want to manage.
2. Right-click the server node and select Dashboard.
3. For Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server lifecycle actions, select Actions > Start, Stop, or Restart in the server dashboard.
4. To open Azure management pages, select Server Settings, then choose a supported page such as Network Configuration, Server Parameters, Backups, or Server Logs.

Start, stop, or restart a server

You can run lifecycle actions from the Actions menu in the dashboard toolbar or from the server's context menu in the Connections tree.

Start a server

1. In the Connections tree, right-click the server and select Start server, or open the dashboard and select Actions > Start.
2. Wait while the extension shows a progress notification and polls Azure for the operation result.
3. Confirm that the server returns to the Ready state before you reconnect or open management pages.

Stop a server

1. In the Connections tree, right-click the server and select Stop server, or open the dashboard and select Actions > Stop.
2. In the confirmation dialog, select Stop.
3. Wait while the extension finishes the stop operation.
4. Reconnect after you start the server again.

Restart a server

If you save parameters that require a restart and select Yes in the restart prompt, the extension initiates the restart automatically. Use these steps when you want to restart the server yourself.

1. In the Connections tree, right-click the server and select Restart server, or open the dashboard and select Actions > Restart.
2. Wait while the extension restarts the server and refreshes the server state.
3. Continue working after the server returns to the Ready state.

Manage network access

Open Server Settings > Network Configuration to manage network access.

For Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server, the Network Configuration page disables firewall editing until public access is enabled. It also keeps Save disabled until you make a valid change. Azure HorizonDB (Preview) doesn't show public access controls, but does include the Allow public access from any Azure service within Azure to this server checkbox.

Add or edit a firewall rule

1. Open Server Settings > Network Configuration.
2. For Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server, under Public access, turn on public access if it's currently off.
3. In the firewall rules table, use the empty row to enter a Firewall rule name, Start IP address, and End IP address, or update an existing row.
4. Select Save.

Use these validation rules when you edit a rule:

Allow your current client IP address

1. Open Server Settings > Network Configuration.
2. Under the firewall rules table, select the link that starts with Add current client IP address.
3. Review the inserted rule and select Save.

If the dashboard can't detect your public IP address, the link changes to Unable to determine current IP address automatically. Enter the address manually in the empty firewall-rule row instead.

Configure broader access settings

Use these Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server options on the Network Configuration page when individual IP rules aren't enough:

Change parameters

Open Server Settings > Server Parameters to search, filter, edit, and reset PostgreSQL parameters for the server.

Find a parameter

1. Open Server Settings > Server Parameters.
2. Use the filter buttons such as All, Modified, Static, Dynamic, or Read-Only to narrow the list.
3. Use the text box to search by parameter name or description.
4. If you need a larger working set, change Rows per page to 25, 50, or 100.
5. If you want to group similar settings before you edit them, sort a column.

Save parameter changes

1. Open Server Settings > Server Parameters.
2. Find the parameter you want to change.
3. Edit the value directly in the Value column.
4. If the parameter shows an info button, hover it to review the allowed values.
5. Select Save.

If the parameter requires a restart, the page adds a Pending Restart row below the parameter. When you save one or more static parameters, the extension asks whether you want to restart the server immediately.

Reset a parameter to the default value

1. Open Server Settings > Server Parameters.
2. Find the parameter you want to reset.
3. Select the reset icon next to the parameter.
4. Select Save.

Manage backups

Open Server Settings > Backups to work with automatic and on-demand backups.

Create an on-demand backup

1. Open Server Settings > Backups.
2. Select Backup now.
3. In Create backup, enter a Backup name.
4. Select Create.

Backup names can contain only letters, numbers, hyphens (-), and underscores (_).

Restore from a backup

1. Open Server Settings > Backups.
2. Find the backup you want to use.
3. Select Restore from this backup.
4. Complete the restore workflow to create a new Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server from that backup.

Delete an on-demand backup

1. Open Server Settings > Backups.
2. Find the on-demand backup you want to remove.
3. Select Delete.
4. In Delete backup, select Delete again to confirm.

Automatic backups stay managed by Azure and can't be deleted from the extension.

Change backup retention

1. Open Server Settings > Backups.
2. Move the retention slider to the number of days you want.
3. Select Save.

You can also filter the backup list with Automatic or On-demand, narrow it with time filters such as Last 24 hours or Last 7 days, and sort the table by Name, Status, Completion time, Retained until, or Type.

Clone a server

Use Clone Server when you want to create a new Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server based on the current server.

1. Open the dashboard.
2. Select Server Settings > Clone Server.
3. Complete the clone workflow to create the new server.

Capture and download server logs

Open Server Settings > Server Logs to capture diagnostic logs and download them for troubleshooting.

Turn log capture on or off

1. Open Server Settings > Server Logs.
2. Turn Capture logs for download on or off.
3. If log capture is on, set Log retention period.
4. Select Save.

Filter and download log files

1. Open Server Settings > Server Logs.
2. Use All types, Server log, or Upgrade log to narrow the list.
3. Use the time filter or the filename search box to find the files you need.
4. Select one or more log files, or use the download button in a single row.
5. Select Download.

The log table supports sorting by Name, Last modified, Size (KB), and Type. When more than 100 files match the current filters, the page shows pagination controls.

Related content

• Server dashboard
• Create a PostgreSQL server
• Connections and identity