# Database limits and versions

> Which database server Ruachost hosting uses, and the connection, size and import limits that apply to your databases.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/databases/database-limits-and-versions/

## Database server

Ruachost shared hosting uses **MariaDB 11.4**, a fast, fully MySQL-compatible database server. Applications built for MySQL, including WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Laravel and most PHP apps, work with it without any changes. In cPanel and phpMyAdmin it's simply called MySQL.

PostgreSQL isn't available on shared hosting. It's available on [Managed VPS](https://ruachost.com/vps).

To check the version yourself, see [Determining the MySQL version](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/developers/databases/determining-the-mysql-version/).

## Limits

| Limit | Value | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Number of databases** | Depends on your plan | See your plan's details on [ruachost.com](https://ruachost.com) |
| **Database size** | Shares your plan's disk space | There's no separate size limit per database. Databases count towards your plan's storage. |
| **Simultaneous connections per database user** | 20 | How many connections one database user can have open at once. See [Common MySQL errors](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/databases/common-mysql-errors/). |
| **Largest import in phpMyAdmin** | 512 MB | Compressed files (`.sql.gz`, `.zip`) count at their compressed size. See [Importing a large database](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/databases/importing-a-large-database/). |
| **Largest single query or row (max_allowed_packet)** | 256 MB | Rarely reached. Very large rows or queries may need splitting. |
| **Idle connection timeout** | 8 hours | Idle connections are closed after this time. Apps should reconnect automatically. |
| **Remote access** | Allowed | Allow your IP address first. See [Configuring remote MySQL access](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/databases/configuring-remote-mysql-access-in-cpanel/). |

These limits keep the shared server fast and fair for everyone. If your site regularly needs more, for example a busy online store, a [Managed VPS](https://ruachost.com/vps) gives you your own database server with limits set to suit you.

## See how much space your databases use

In cPanel, open **Manage My Databases**. The size of each database is shown next to its name. See also [Determining the size of MySQL databases and tables](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/developers/databases/determining-the-size-of-mysql-databases-and-tables/).

To free up space, remove data you no longer need, for example old revisions, spam comments or logs in WordPress. See [Optimizing WordPress database](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/wordpress/guides/optimizing-wordpress-database/).