> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://proxy-docs.permify.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Database Configuration

For production deployments, run Permify with PostgreSQL instead of in-memory storage.

## Production Default: Pgcat

For multi-replica Permify deployments, use pgcat in session mode and connect Permify through pgcat.

```yaml theme={null}
database:
  engine: postgres
  writer:
    uri: postgresql://postgres:DB_PASSWORD@pgcat:6432/permify?plan_cache_mode=force_custom_plan&default_query_exec_mode=cache_describe
  reader:
    uri: postgresql://postgres:DB_PASSWORD@pgcat:6432/permify?plan_cache_mode=force_custom_plan&default_query_exec_mode=cache_describe
  max_connections: 1
  min_connections: 0
```

See full setup guide: [Database Pooling with Pgcat](/setting-up/installation/pooling)

## Supported PostgreSQL versions

* PostgreSQL `13.8+` is supported.
* Permify validates PostgreSQL version during startup and returns an error for older versions.

For Watch API usage, also enable:

* `track_commit_timestamp = on`
* See Watch API setup: [Watch API requirements](/api-reference/watch/watch-changes)

## Recommended runtime settings (direct Postgres)

```yaml theme={null}
database:
  engine: postgres
  uri: postgresql://postgres:DB_PASSWORD@postgres:5432/permify?sslmode=require
  auto_migrate: true
  max_connections: 20 # typical range: 15-25, tune to DB limits and workload
  min_connections: 2  # typical range: 1-3
  max_connection_lifetime: 30m
  max_connection_idle_time: 5m
```

## Related guides

* [Database Pooling with Pgcat](/setting-up/installation/pooling)
* [Watch API requirements](/api-reference/watch/watch-changes)
* [Configuration reference](/setting-up/configuration)