Question 1

How do we migrate from AWS RDS to OutaCloud without data loss?

Accepted Answer

We use real-time replication methods. We set up your new database cluster as a replica of your existing RDS instance. Data is synced continuously. Once they are in sync, we plan a short maintenance window (usually minutes) to switch your application connection strings to the new cluster.

Question 2

Is there downtime during the migration?

Accepted Answer

For the initial data sync: No. Your application stays online. For the final cutover: Yes, briefly. Depending on your DNS TTL and application architecture, this usually takes between 5 to 15 minutes to ensure strict data consistency during the switch.

Question 3

Which database versions do you support?

Accepted Answer

We support all currently maintained versions of PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, and MongoDB. Unlike AWS, which forces upgrades on their schedule, we let you decide when to upgrade major versions, preventing unexpected breaking changes.

Question 4

Can you handle complex setups like PostGIS or TimescaleDB?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since you run on dedicated resources (Bare Metal / VM), we can install any extension you need. We are not limited by a proprietary Allowed Extensions list like AWS RDS or Azure SQL.

Question 5

Why is a database on Bare Metal faster than AWS RDS?

Accepted Answer

AWS RDS uses network-attached storage (EBS), which introduces latency (typically 1-3ms) and throttles IOPS unless you pay for expensive Provisioned IOPS. Our setups run on local Enterprise NVMe SSDs with direct PCIe access. This typically results in latencies under 0.1ms and millions of IOPS at no extra cost.

Question 6

Do I get dedicated resources?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We deploy your databases on dedicated resources (CPU/RAM). There is no burst balance to worry about, and no noisy neighbors stealing your CPU cycles. You get the raw performance of the hardware you pay for.

Question 7

How does scaling work?

Accepted Answer

Vertical Scaling: We can resize VMs or upgrade the physical server (more RAM/CPU) quickly. Horizontal Scaling: We can add Read-Replicas to your cluster to offload read-heavy traffic, just like you would in the cloud.

Question 8

How do you ensure High Availability (Multi-AZ equivalent)?

Accepted Answer

We build clusters using Patroni for PostgreSQL or Galera for MySQL, spread across different physical nodes or data centers. If the primary node fails, the system detects it and automatically promotes a standby node to primary within seconds. Your application connects via a virtual IP or load balancer and reconnects automatically.

Question 9

How does Point-in-Time-Recovery (PITR) work?

Accepted Answer

We continuously archive database transaction logs (WAL). This allows us to restore your database to any specific second in the past (e.g., restore to status at 14:32 yesterday). This protects you against accidental data deletion or corruption.

Question 10

Where are the backups stored?

Accepted Answer

We follow the 3-2-1 rule. Data is on the live server, local backups are on a separate disk, and off-site backups are pushed to geographically separated storage (e.g., S3-compatible storage or backup servers) to ensure disaster recovery.

Question 11

Do you monitor the databases 24/7?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our monitoring is deep. We don't just check is the server on. We monitor query performance, lock waits, replication lag, connection pool saturation, and disk growth. If a metric goes critical, our engineers are alerted immediately.

Question 12

Do I get Superuser / Root access?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Unlike RDS, where the superuser role is blocked, we can grant you full privileges if your application requires it. However, for managed stability, we recommend using standard users for daily operations.

Question 13

Is the data encrypted?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We enforce encryption in transit (TLS/SSL enforcement) and encryption at rest (using LUKS or database-level encryption) to ensure your data is secure from physical theft or unauthorized access.

Question 14

Are you GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OutaCloud is a German company. We host your databases in ISO 27001 certified data centers in Germany (Hetzner, IONOS) or Europe (OVH). No data is ever transferred to the US, strictly avoiding US Cloud Act risks.

Question 15

How is network security handled?

Accepted Answer

We configure a strict firewall (allow-listing). Only your application servers and your VPN IPs can access the database port. We can also configure VPC-peering-like private networks between your app servers and the database cluster.

Question 16

What exactly does "Managed" mean?

Accepted Answer

Managed means we take full responsibility for the database uptime and health. We handle OS updates, database patches, backup verification, monitoring configuration, and troubleshooting. You focus on your code; we keep the database running.

Question 17

Are there hidden costs like "IOPS" or "Data Transfer"?

Accepted Answer

No. Our pricing is a predictable flat monthly fee. It includes the compute, storage, backups, and traffic. You will never receive a surprise bill for too many database queries or too much disk activity.

Question 18

Can I use my own AWS/Hetzner account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can manage databases running in your own infrastructure account (Bring Your Own Cloud), or we can provide the complete infrastructure package. The choice is yours.

Question 19

What happens if hardware fails?

Accepted Answer

We handle the incident management. If a disk or server fails, we coordinate with the data center provider for replacement, fail over your database to a healthy node, and restore redundancy once the hardware is fixed – all transparent to you.

Question 20

Is there a minimum contract duration?

Accepted Answer

We believe in our quality, not lock-in. Our standard contracts are monthly cancelable. We want you to stay because you are happy, not because you signed a 3-year deal.

Question 21

Do I need to buy the servers myself?

Accepted Answer

You rent them, but yes, the contract is usually in your name (e.g., at Hetzner or IONOS). This ensures you have full legal ownership of the data and infrastructure. We just need technical access to manage them.

Question 22

Does OutaCloud resell the hardware?

Accepted Answer

No. We believe in total transparency. We help you choose the right server, but you pay the provider directly. We only charge a service fee for managing the software stack. This saves you the typical Managed Hosting Markup of 50-100%.

Question 23

What happens if I cancel OutaCloud?

Accepted Answer

You keep everything. Since the servers are yours, your database keeps running. We will simply remove our monitoring agents and hand over the full administrative credentials to your team. No hostage-taking of your data.

Question 24

Can you manage databases on my existing infrastructure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Whether you have existing servers at a datacenter, bare metal at Hetzner, or even EC2 instances at AWS – we can manage them. However, the biggest cost savings come from moving to dedicated bare metal hardware.

Feature	AWS RDS	Managed Hosting	OutaCloud Ops
Ownership	AWS owns everything	Hoster owns hardware	YOU own the hardware
Infrastructure Cost	~$850/mo (bundled)	~$300/mo (marked up)	~$60/mo (paid to datacenter)
Service/Mgmt Fee	Included (Basic)	Included	~$150/mo (paid to us)
Total Cost	~$850/mo	~$300/mo	~$210/mo
Performance	Shared vCPU / Network Storage	Often Virtualized	Dedicated Bare Metal / NVMe
Data Access	SQL Port only	SQL Port only	Full Root / SSH Access

Your Database, Your Hardware, Our Operations

The 'Un-Cloud' Model

You Rent the Metal

We Run the Engine

You Save 70-80%

Why Companies Choose Us

Your Own Remote DBA Team

Wholesale Hardware Prices

No Vendor Lock-in

When Does Our Service Make Sense?

RDS Migration

Growing Requirements

Compliance & Data Privacy

Cost Optimization

What's Included in the Service?

Included

Optional Add-ons

Supported Database Engines

MySQL

PostgreSQL

MariaDB

Redis

MongoDB

Full Cost Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions

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