Configure the Database Location

You can select the location of the database to use to store log messages that are sent to your Dimension server. You can use either the built-in PostgreSQL database installed with your instance of Dimension or a PostgreSQL database that has already been installed in an external location.

Supported external database versions:

• PostgreSQL 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6
• PostgreSQL 10 (supported in Dimension 2.1.2 U3 or higher)
• PostgreSQL 11 and 12 (supported in Dimension 2.1.2 U4 or higher)
• PostgreSQL 13 and 14 (supported in Dimension 2.2.2 or higher)

If you use an external PostgreSQL server, you must configure it to enable Dimension to connect to the database service. Configure the pg_hba.conf file on the PostgreSQL server to enable Dimension to connect using the external PostgreSQL database settings. For more information, go to Client Authentication in the PostgreSQL documentation.

The first time the Dimension server connects to the database, it configures the structure of the database tables.

If you specify the same external PostgreSQL database for more than one instance of Dimension, each instance of Dimension must use the same remote backup server. For more information about the remote backup location for the Dimension server, go to Configure Remote Backup Settings.

If you have log messages in a WSM Log Server database that you want to view in Dimension, you can restore that data to your new Dimension PostgreSQL database. Log messages that are restored from a WSM Log Server database can be viewed in Dimension, but are not included in Dashboard pages or reports. For instructions to restore log data to your Dimension database, go to the Restore a Database Backup File section in the topic Manage the Dimension Database.

Before you configure Dimension to use an external database, make sure you have this information for the external database:

• IP address of the computer where the database is installed
• Port number to use to connect to the database
• User name and password for the Database User

To specify the location of the Dimension database:

1. Select > Administration > Administration > Database.
   The Database pages open.
2. Select the Configuration tab.
   The Database Location settings open.
3. To unlock the configuration so you can make changes, click .
   For more information about how to unlock and lock the Dimension configuration, go to Lock and Unlock the Dimension Configuration.
4. Select a database location:
   • To use the database installed with Dimension:

     1. Select Built-in database.
     2. To modify the built-in PostgreSQL settings, click Advanced Settings.

     Do not modify Advanced Settings unless instructed by WatchGuard Support.

     3. To view the built-in PostgreSQL settings, edit these settings with guidance from WatchGuard Support:
        • Maximum Connections
        • Shared Buffers
        • Working Memory
        • Checkpoint Segments
        • Max Locks/Transaction
        • Effective Cache Size
   • To use an external PostgreSQL database:

     1. Select External PostgreSQL database.
     2. In the Database Name text box, type the name of the external database.
     3. In the Host text box, type the host name or IP address where the external database is located.
     4. In the Port text box, type or select the port to use to connect to the external database.
     5. From the Encryption drop-down list, select an option:
        • None
        • Required
        • Required with verification
     6. In the Database User and Passphrase text boxes, type the user credentials to use to connect to the external database.
     7. To verify that Dimension can connect to the external database with the information you specified, click Test Connection.

5. Click Save.

After you change the database location, the Log Server and Log Collector processes and services restart.

Related Topics

Dimension Server Management

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