# Servers and databases

[Wiki](../README.md) / [Station](README.md)

The **Servers** panel (**Ctrl+1**, **⌘1** on macOS) lists the instances on your computer
first, then your saved connections to other Galactus servers. Each is one line: a status
mark, its name and its port or address. The one you are working with is highlighted, with
its databases listed beneath it.

Hover a row to see its buttons, or right-click it for every action.

## Instances on your computer

An instance is a data folder with one database, plus the `system` database that holds its
users and roles. Keep one per project: each has its own data, its own database name and its
own `gdb` password.

- **Make one:** **+ Add › New local instance…**, then give it a name and a database name.
  The database is created the first time the instance starts.
- **Start and stop:** ▶ and ■ on the row, or **Start server** on the Server view.
- **One at a time:** all instances share the Bolt port, so your applications always connect
  to `bolt://127.0.0.1:7687`. Starting another instance asks before stopping the running
  one, and says how many clients are connected to it.
- **Rename:** press **F2** over the row, double-click the instance in use, or right-click ›
  **Rename**. Stop the instance first: renaming moves its data folder and its saved
  passwords.
- **Delete:** × on the row. Station asks you to type the instance's name, because its
  database goes with it. The data folder moves to `deleted` inside Station's folder rather
  than being erased.

The square beside the name shows the state: hollow when stopped, lime while running, blue
with a spinner while starting or stopping, red when the server has stopped with an error.
The error itself shows in red under the row.

Station runs Galactus DB 2.0, so every instance stores its graph on the
[Paged engine](../operations/storage.md). An instance made by Station 0.3 or earlier moves to
it the first time Station 0.4 starts it: Station first dumps the database to a
`pre-upgrade-…gdb` file in the `backup` folder beside its data, then opens it on the new
engine. A large database
takes about a minute; a small one, under a second.

Station listens on `127.0.0.1`, so programs on your computer connect to it. For a database
that other machines and containers share, run Galactus DB [with Docker](../operations/docker.md)
or on a server, and add it here as a connection.

## Connections to other servers

**+ Add** offers three kinds: **Local Docker**, **Galactus Cloud** and **Remote**. Each
fills in sensible defaults; enter the address, user and password, then **Test and save**.
Addresses use `bolt://` or, with TLS, `bolt+s://`. For a server whose certificate comes from
your own certificate authority, give the CA file as a PEM bundle.

Tick **Remember the password** to keep it in your operating system's credential store.
Otherwise Station keeps it only until you close the window.

Click a connection to work with it. Its diamond is lime once connected, spins while
connecting, and turns red if the server cannot be reached, with the reason under the row.
Right-click › **Edit…** changes its details; × removes it, and the message in the corner
offers **Undo** for a few seconds. A removed connection's saved password leaves the
credential store once Undo has passed.

## Choosing a database

The server you are working with lists its databases under its row. Click one to send the
current query tab's queries there; the editor shows the database's name above the query, and
clicking that name brings you back to this panel. Right-click a database for **Browse data**
or **Schema graph**, each in a new query tab.

A server with more than eight databases gets a filter box above the list. **F5** refreshes
the list and the schema.

## Arranging the sidebar

Instances and connections stay in the order you give them:

- **Drag** a row up or down. A line shows where it will land.
- Or right-click it › **Move up** / **Move down**.

The same works for snippet collections and snippets; see
[Snippets and history](snippets.md).

## Related articles

[Look after a server](server-view.md) · [Install Station](install.md) · [Authentication](../operations/authentication.md)