# PostgreSQL
***Note:**** Access to PostgreSQL is restricted to students with projects, and it can be accessed via special subnet (not available publicly to all students)*
##### **How to Access Your Database:**
- First step, you need to request the creation of a database by sending an email to
- Provide details about your project, supervisor, and what is the suggested name of the database and include a list of all students (if applicable).
- Once CS IT confirms the DB creation, you can log in to [https://psql.cs.uwindsor.ca](https://psql.cs.uwindsor.ca)
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/roMimage.png)
- If it’s your first time, click on “Add New Server”
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/GZ0image.png)
- In the (Register - Server) Windows:
- Name: localhost
- Hostname/address: localhost
- Maintenance database: Your DB name
- Username: your UWINID
- Password: your UWIN password
- Click on "Save"
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/8tGimage.png)
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/vdzimage.png)
##### **Connect to PostgreSQL from console: **
- Login/SSH to your project’s VM, then issue this command:
`psql -h psql.cs.uwindsor.ca -U username -d db_name`
##### **Connect to a database from your application:**
- When connecting to a database from your application, e.g:
```php
query("SELECT current_user, current_database()");
print_r($stmt->fetch());
?>
```
- The password, must be provided in the code, we DO NOT recommend to use your UWIN username and password here!
- Alternatively, create a custom username/role for the application. (as explained in the next steps)
##### **Create New username/role for your application (Using the web interface):**
- Login to [https://psql.cs.uwindsor.ca](https://psql.cs.uwindsor.ca)
- Right click on "Login/Group Roles" and Create a new Role
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/9GAimage.png)
- In the new windows, select the username (always start with **app\_**):
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/25simage.png)
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/DCFimage.png)
- In the "Privileges" tab, you must enable "Can Login"
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/CQOimage.png)
- In the "Membership" tab, add "app\_users" (this step is to allow this new user to login remotely)
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/Iptimage.png)
- Then, we need to grant this new user, access/privileges on your database. right click on your database, and select "Properties":
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/sfPimage.png)
- Make sure you are the owner of the database (contact IT if you cannot change it)
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/imeimage.png)
- In the "Security" Tab, click on the plus (+) sign, to add the new user to the database:
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/OXlimage.png)
[](https://help.cs.uwindsor.ca/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/JxAimage.png)
##### **Create New username/role for your application (Using the command prompt):**
- SSH/Login to your VM
- Connect to the database:
`psql -h psql.cs.uwindsor.ca -U username-d database`
- Verify you are the owner of the database:
```sql
SELECT datname, pg_catalog.pg_get_userbyid(datdba)
FROM pg_database
WHERE datname = 'database';
```
If you are not the owner, contact CS IT and ask them to change the owner of the database.
- Create a new application role/username:
`CREATE ROLE app_testing LOGIN PASSWORD 'password';`
- Grant the new username/role access to app\_users (so you can login with the new username):
`GRANT app_users TO app_testing;`
- Grant the new username access to your database:
`GRANT ALL ON DATABASE "az-testsis" TO app_testing;`
Now you can use the new username and password to access your database from your web application.