In this article, we aim to guide our valued existing customers through the array of changes and innovative features that have been introduced in the new Console, which has been generally available since March 2023.
To ensure a smooth transition, we are providing a six-month migration window, spanning from June 2023 to November 2023. For detailed information regarding our migration plan, please refer to our dedicated documentation.
As you explore the following sections, you will discover a host of new features as well as significant improvements to existing functionalities. Should you have any specific questions about the changes or general inquiries about the new Console, please do not hesitate to contact our support team.
Organizations
One of the standout features in the new Console is the introduction of Organizations, which serves as a centralized hub for team management and billing activities. Within Organizations, you now have the ability to invite, remove, and assign roles to users, ensuring controlled access to different areas of the Organization. Additionally, we have implemented features such as the ability to request a Change Owner of the Organization and further enhancing team management capabilities.
For a detailed overview of the Organization's management abilities, please check out this article.
Environments
Environments is the redesign of Private Networks. It introduces a powerful solution for grouping databases and configuring shared network rules (such as IP Whitelists or Peering Connections), and now also restricting access to specific subsets of your team. By assigning a color, such as blue, to an Environment, you can now configure the role of Operator for specific members within your Organization, thereby preventing their access to Console views related to the designated blue Environment.
If you'd like to know more, please follow our related documentation article.
Billing
Our billing system has undergone a comprehensive redesign to enhance flexibility and intuitiveness. Firstly, billing is now associated with Organizations, rather than individual users. The Owner of the Organization assumes responsibility for billing, while a new role, Billing Manager, grants access solely to the Billing Area within the Organization. .
In the new billing structure, there are two primary components now:
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Subscription: This monthly payment plan was introduced to adjust our service options to different project needs. When creating an Organization, it is required to select an appropriate Subscription that aligns with your specific requirements. The chosen Subscription determines the available limits and support options for the Organization. To cater to various needs, we offer a free plan for customers with smaller projects who do not require extensive usage of our services.
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Metered Services: Formerly known as pay-as-you-go usage, Metered Services have also undergone a significant change. They are now prorated on an hourly basis, presenting greater advantages in different scenarios, for example where a resource is only required for short testing periods.
At the beginning of each month you will pay for the Subscription and the hours consumed by the Metered Services the previous month.
To provide better visibility into costs and usage, we have developed tools accessible through our Console. Each invoice now includes a detailed breakdown of usage, offering granular insight. Additionally, you can monitor the current usage of Metered Services for your Organization. Furthermore, our Billing Dashboard provides the most important billing metrics, along with a comprehensive history chart displaying your billing activity over the past year.
For a detailed overview of the mentioned changes, please refer to our Billing article.
Snapshots
In the new Console, we have replaced the practice of creating downloadable files for each Snapshot with the direct availability of Snapshots within GrapheneDB for restoration purposes. This change has enabled us to enhance options related to frequency and retention. Moreover, we have introduced Snapshot policies, which can be added to your databases to facilitate seamless Snapshot creation and restoration. It's worth noting that Snapshots remain encrypted and reside in the region of your choice.
We have prepared detailed documentation on Snapshots here.
Pause Databases
The introduction of the Pause feature allows you to temporarily halt a database when it is not in use and resume its operations at your convenience, all while incurring only a fraction of the regular running costs. This functionality is particularly valuable for non-production databases. Furthermore, automation of the pause/resume process can be achieved via our API, ensuring that the database is readily available when needed.
Please follow our related article to find out more.
Switch Connection URL
In the new Console, you now have the ability to switch the connection URLs of two databases. This feature offers a range of use cases, including disaster recovery scenarios, where you can create a clone of your affected database, switch the Connection URL and connect to it without having to change anything in the client.
More on Switch Connection URL here.
Configuration
We have introduced a feature that allows you to modify the configuration file of your database directly within the interface. You can add new lines to the file and remove unnecessary ones, simplifying the configuration process. Additionally, certain configurations are offered as managed solutions, providing an improved experience. These include memory management and the ability to disable authentication for the database.
Here's our full documentation on this topic.
Cloning
Cloning functionality has been enhanced in the new Console. The process now utilizes the new Snapshots, resulting in significantly faster cloning times. Furthermore, cloned databases inherit now all configurations and plugins from the original database.
Historical Metrics
In addition to the existing open metrics endpoint, the new Console presents historical metrics in charts, allowing you to review server metrics from different time windows in the past. Furthermore, we have introduced a chart specifically for health checks and Out-of-Memory (OOM) incidents, enabling you to pinpoint issues and evaluate the uptime of your database.
Please follow this link for more details on this.
Activity Feed
To provide better visibility into actions performed within your Organization, we have introduced the Activity Feed feature. As a member, you can now track who performed specific actions and when they were executed. We offer a Billing, Environments and Database Activity feed that you will find in the different areas.
We hope this comprehensive overview of the new Console's features and enhancements has provided valuable insights. As you explore the updated interface, please feel free to reach out to our support team for any assistance you may require.