Database Configuration
This document provides information on connecting Confluence to an external database.
Choosing an external database
Note: Take time to choose your database wisely. The XML backup built into Confluence is not suited for migration or backup of large data sets. If you need to migrate later, you may need to use a third party database migration tool.
Below is more information on selecting and migrating to an external database:
On this page:
Related pages:
About the embedded H2 database
Your Confluence installation includes an embedded H2 database, to enable you to try Confluence without setting up an external database. The embedded H2 database is only supported while you are evaluating Confluence. You must migrate to a supported external database before using Confluence as a production system.
To find out if you are still using the embedded database, go to 
> General Configuration > Troubleshooting and support tools.
Database setup
To find out how to set up your database, see:
- Database Setup for Oracle
- Database Setup For MySQL
- Database Setup for PostgreSQL
- Database Setup for SQL Server
Database drivers
You must use a supported database driver. See Database JDBC Drivers for the drivers we support.
If you attempt to use an unsupported or custom JDBC driver (or a driverClassName from an unsupported or custom driver in your JINDI datasource connection) collaborative editing will fail.
Database connection methods
You can connect Confluence to your database using a JDBC URL or a JNDI datasource.
By default the setup wizard only provides the option to use a JDBC connection, as this is the recommended connection method.
If you want to use a JNDI datasource, see Configuring a datasource connection for the steps you'll need to take before you set up Confluence, as the setup wizard will only provide the option to use a datasource if it detects a datasource in your Tomcat configuration.
Database troubleshooting
For database-related problems see Database Troubleshooting.
If you need more help, check out Troubleshooting Problems and Requesting Technical Support.