Generic PostgreSQL Destination Setup Guide

Follow our setup guide to connect PostgreSQL database as a destination to Fivetran.

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Prerequisites

To connect PostgreSQL to Fivetran, you need the following:

• PostgreSQL version 7.3 or above
• Database host's IP (e.g., 1.2.3.4) or domain (your.server.com)
• Port (usually 5432)
• Fivetran role with the permissions

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Setup instructions

Choose connection method

Decide whether to connect to your PostgreSQL database directly, using an SSH tunnel, or using private link. For more information, see our .

Connect directly

If you connect directly, you must create a rule in a security group that allows Fivetran access to your database instance and port.

Configure your firewall and/or other access control systems to allow:

• incoming connections to your host and port (usually 5432) from for your database's region
• outgoing connections from all ports (1024 to 65535) to

Connect using an SSH tunnel

If you connect using an SSH tunnel, Fivetran connects to a separate server in your network that provides an SSH tunnel to your PostgreSQL database. You must then configure your tunnel server's security group to allow Fivetran access and configure the instance's security to allow access from the tunnel.

You must connect through SSH if your database is contained within an inaccessible subnet.

To connect using SSH, do the following:

1. In the , select the Connect via an SSH tunnel option.

2. Copy Fivetran's public SSH key.

3. Add the public key to the authorized_keys file of your SSH server. The key must be all on one line, so make sure that you don't introduce any line breaks when cutting and pasting.

Connect using AWS PrivateLink Beta

IMPORTANT: You must have a Business Critical plan to use AWS PrivateLink.

AWS PrivateLink allows VPCs and AWS-hosted or on-premises services to communicate with one another without exposing traffic to the public internet. PrivateLink is the most secure connection method. Learn more in .

Follow to configure PrivateLink for your destination.

Connect using Azure Private Link Beta

IMPORTANT: You must have a Business Critical plan to use Azure Private Link.

Azure Private Link allows Virtual Networks (VNets) and Azure-hosted or on-premises services to communicate with one another without exposing traffic to the public internet. Learn more in Microsoft's .

Follow to configure Private Link for your destination.

Connect using Google Cloud Private Service Connect Private Preview

Google Cloud Private Service Connect allows VPCs and Google-hosted or on-premises services to communicate with one another without exposing traffic to the public internet. Learn more in Google Cloud's .

Follow to configure Private Link for your destination.

Create Fivetran user

1. Connect to your PostgreSQL database and execute the following query to create a user for Fivetran. Choose a memorable username (for example, fivetran). Replace <password> with a password of your choice:

   CREATE USER fivetran PASSWORD <password>;
   content_copy

2. Execute the following query to grant the fivetran user the following privileges:

   • CREATE: Allows the user to create new schemas in the database
   • TEMPORARY: Allows the user to create temporary tables while using the database

   GRANT CREATE, TEMPORARY ON DATABASE <database> TO fivetran;
   content_copy

Complete Fivetran configuration

1. Log in to your Fivetran account.
2. Go to the , then click + Add Destination.
3. On the Add destination to your account page, enter a Destination name of your choice.
4. Click Add.
5. Select Postgres as the destination type.
6. In the destination setup form, enter the Host name or the IP address of the database server.
7. Enter the Port number. For example, 5432.
8. Enter the User name you created in .
9. Enter your Password.
10. Enter the Database name you want to replicate to.
11. Choose your Connection method:
    • Connect directly
    • Connect via an SSH
    • Connect via PrivateLink

    NOTE: The Connect via PrivateLink option is available only for Business Critical accounts.

12. If you choose Connect via an SSH tunnel, enter the following details:
    • SSH Host
    • SSH Port
    • SSH User
    • (Optional) Enable the Require TLS through tunnel toggle if you want to use TLS.
13. Choose the Data processing location. Depending on the plan you are on and your selected cloud service provider, you may also need to choose a Cloud service provider and cloud region as described in our .

    IMPORTANT: If you are using , , or , select the corresponding Cloud service provider.

14. Choose your Time zone.
15. (Optional for Business Critical accounts) To enable , set the Use Failover toggle to ON, and then select your Failover Location and Failover Region. Make note of the IP addresses of the secondary region and safelist these addresses in your firewall.
16. Click Save & Test.

Fivetran the PostgreSQL destination connection. On successful completion of the setup tests, you can sync your data using Fivetran connectors to the PostgreSQL destination.

Setup tests

Fivetran performs the following PostgreSQL connection tests:

• The SSH Tunnel Test validates the SSH tunnel details you provided in the setup form and then checks the connectivity to the instance using the SSH Tunnel if you are connecting using an SSH tunnel.

• The Database Host Connection Test validates the database credentials you provided in the setup form. The test verifies that the host is not private and then checks the connectivity to the host.

• The Certificate Validation Test generates a pop-up window where you must choose which certificate you want Fivetran to use. The test then validates that certificate and checks that we can connect to your database using TLS. We skip this test if you aren't connecting directly.

• The Permission Test checks that we have the correct permissions to create schemas and tables in your database.

  NOTE: The tests may take a couple of minutes to finish running.

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