FAQ & Troubleshooting

General

What databases does ColdPlane support?

ColdPlane supports PostgreSQL and MySQL. Both postgres:// and pg:// connection schemes are supported for PostgreSQL.

Is my data encrypted?

Yes. All backups are encrypted at rest using AES-256 with a unique encryption key per backup, managed by AWS so that only your account can decrypt the data.

Can I query archived data without restoring it?

Yes — this is a core feature. ColdPlane runs SQL queries directly against your archived data, so there is no need to rehydrate data into a live database.

What happens if I delete a backup?

Your archived data is kept indefinitely — it never expires. When you explicitly delete a backup, it enters a recovery window (14 days on Free, 30 days on paid plans) during which you can undo the deletion from the dashboard or CLI. After the recovery window the data is permanently removed.

CLI

How do I install the CLI?

The fastest way is the one-line installer:

curl -fsSL https://get.coldplane.com | sh

Or download a binary directly from the releases page.

The CLI says "command not found" after install

Your shell may cache command lookups. Run hash -r or open a new terminal window, then try again.

How do I update the CLI?

Re-run the installer — it always fetches the latest version:

curl -fsSL https://get.coldplane.com | sh

How do I check my current version?

coldplane version

Backups

My backup is stuck in "running" status

A backup can appear stuck if the CLI lost connectivity mid-upload. Wait for the lock to expire (locks auto-release after 15 minutes), then retry:

coldplane backup create --db-url "..." --tables "..."

If the lock persists, contact support.

Can I back up a production database safely?

Yes. ColdPlane uses read-only connections and does not acquire locks on your database. For extra safety, point the CLI at a read replica instead of the primary.

What format is the archived data stored in?

Data is exported in an efficient columnar format optimized for compression and fast analytical queries.

Queries

What SQL syntax is supported?

ColdPlane supports standard SQL SELECT and WITH statements, including window functions, CTEs, and aggregations. Only read-only queries (SELECT/WITH) are allowed.

My query timed out

Query timeouts depend on your plan:

Try narrowing your query with WHERE clauses or projecting fewer columns.

Can I export query results?

Yes. Use --export with the query run command:

coldplane query run \
  --backup-id bck_abc123 \
  --table events \
  --sql "SELECT id, type, created_at FROM events WHERE created_at > '2024-01-01'" \
  --export --format csv

Billing

How is storage calculated?

Storage is measured as the total compressed size of all your active backups. Soft-deleted backups (in the 7-day grace period) still count toward your quota.

Can I change my plan?

Yes. Go to Settings > Billing in the dashboard or visit the upgrade page. Upgrades take effect immediately; downgrades apply at the end of the current billing cycle.

What happens if I exceed my plan limits?

New backup and query operations will be rejected until you free up space or upgrade. Existing backups and data remain accessible.