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Set Up PgBouncer – PostgreSQL Connection Pooling on VPS

PgBouncer on VPS/root server: install, pool_mode, max_connections, Docker & systemd – make PostgreSQL 10× more efficient for web apps.

Root & VPS

Quick answer: PgBouncer recycles PostgreSQL connections – instead of 500 connections only 20 real ones. Install between app and DB on your VPS.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

When do I need PgBouncer?
From ~50 concurrent DB connections or when your app opens a new connection per request (PHP, serverless-style). Symptom: "too many connections".
transaction or session pool_mode?
transaction (default): connection returned after each transaction. session: for prepared statements. statement: rare, special cases only.
PgBouncer port?
PostgreSQL stays 5432 internally. PgBouncer listens on 6432 (default). App connects to 6432 instead of 5432.
PgBouncer with Docker Compose?
Yes – most popular setup. App → pgbouncer:6432 → postgres:5432. See copy-paste compose below.
How many connections are enough?
default_pool_size=20 often enough for 500+ app users. PostgreSQL max_connections can stay low (50–100).
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