Connecting to PostgreSQL with Remote Access Disabled using RazorSQL via PHP
Many times, web hosting providers include PostgreSQL as part of their hosting packages, but do not allow users to connect to the PostgreSQL database from a remote location. This forces users to use a web based application to access their PostgreSQL database instance, or resort to complex solutions such as SSH tunneling. The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge allows users to connect to a PostgreSQL database with the simple deployment of a PHP page, and allows them to get the added functionality of a desktop application like RazorSQL as opposed to the limited functionality of web-based database access.
The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge provides the ability for users to interact with a PostgreSQL database without making a direct connection to the database. Instead, the user connects to the RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge, which then connects to the database. The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge is a PHP program that can be deployed on any web server that supports PHP and has the necessary PostgreSQL PHP libraries installed. Since the PHP page resides on the hosting provider's web server, even if remote access is disabled on the PostgreSQL database, the PHP page will still be able to connect.
As an added bonus, if your web server supports SSL, the RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge can be used to securely transmit your data from your desktop to your PostgreSQL database instance.
Requirements
The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge requires a web server with PHP support and the PostgreSQL PHP libraries must be installed and configured.
Deployment
The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge file is located here:
<RazorSQL Install Directory>/bridge/razorsql_postgresql_bridge.php
To deploy the bridge, simply copy this file to a PHP enabled web server.
Also included is a test page to check to see if PostgreSQL can be accessed via the web server. The test page is located here:
<RazorSQL Install Directory>/bridge/test_postgresql_setup.php
To test the PostgreSQL setup, simply copy this file to a PHP enabled web server, access the page, and follow the instructions.
Security
The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge can work via either HTTP or HTTPS. If retrieving sensitive data, it is recommended that HTTPS be used.
The RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge provides the ability to supply a bridge password. Only calls to the brige that include a correct password will be handled. The bridge ships with a default password of radmin. It is recommended that this password be changed. To change the password, simply replace the radmin in the following line of the bridge PHP page with another password.
$checkPassword = 'radmin';
Accessing the Bridge
Once the bridge PHP page is deployed to a web server, the bridge can be called via either HTTP or HTTPS if your web server supports SSL.
To set up a connection profile that communicates via the PostgreSQL PHP bridge, simply access the Actions -> Add Connection Profile menu option, select PostgreSQL as the database type and RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge as the connection type. There are then fields displayed such as Bridge URL, Bridge Password, etc. Enter the web address of the deployed bridge PHP in the Bridge URL and the enter password for the bridge, the default being radmin, or your custom password if you modified the bridge page to have a custom password, in the Bridge Password field. Also enter your PostgreSQL login and password information, and the host, port, and database name for your particular PostgreSQL database instance.
Since the bridge does not hold on to connections, but instead opens and closes connections for each call, the bridge cannot do multiple fetches to the database for the same query. Because of this, there is a field call "max rows to return" located in the add connection profile screen when setting up the bridge. The value of this field tells the bridge the maximum number of rows to fetch per query. If set too high, this could cause performance problems.
Limitations
There are certain features of RazorSQL that are not available when using the RazorSQL PostgreSQL PHP Bridge. The Execute Procedure/Function tool is not available. Also, all connections via the bridge are set to auto commit since connections are not held onto by the bridge.
