Plesk needs database servers for storing its own databases, databases used by its components (for example, databases for the webmail service), and databases created by hosting customers’ websites and APS applications (for example, a WordPress database).

Plesk supports the most popular database engines and is shipped with corresponding database management tools. Plesk can work with database servers located on the same server with Plesk or on a remote machine.

By default, on Linux servers, database engines are installed on the same server with Plesk from the repository of your OS vendor (Linux) or your custom repository. On Windows servers, database engines are packaged with Plesk and installed on the same server with Plesk.

Database Server Software in Plesk for Linux

Plesk for Linux supports MySQL/MariaDB and PostgreSQL database servers. Plesk uses MySQL/MariaDB and PostgreSQL packages from the repository of your operating system. The exception is MySQL/MariaDB 5.5, which is packaged with Plesk and supported on a limited number of operating systems.

MySQL/MariaDB is installed during Plesk installation. You can additionally install PostgreSQL through Tools & Settings > Updates > Add/Remove Components > PostgreSQL server.

You can also register external MySQL and PostgreSQL database servers in Plesk. For details, see Adding and Removing Database Servers. The list of supported database server versions is provided in Release Notes.

On CloudLinux Plesk installations, you can use MySQL/MariaDB 5.5. It is packaged with Plesk and can be installed through Updates > Add/Remove Components.

Database Server Software in Plesk for Windows

Plesk for Windows supports the following database servers: MariaDB, Microsoft SQL, and MySQL.

MariaDB is installed by default and is used for the Plesk database and for customers’ websites.

Various versions of Microsoft SQL Server are shipped with Plesk by default. To install them, go to Tools & Settings > Updates > Add/Remove Components.

You can also register external Microsoft SQL, MySQL, and MariaDB servers in Plesk. For details, see Adding and Removing Database Servers.

To work with other database engines, Plesk for Windows uses ODBC. For details, see Connecting to External Databases (Windows).

See the list of supported database server versions in Release Notes.