/alloydb-basics

name: alloydb-basics
metadata:
  category: Databases
description: >-
  Manages clusters, instances, and backups for AlloyDB for PostgreSQL, and
  integrates with AlloyDB Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools for automated database operations.
  Use when creating, configuring, or administering AlloyDB databases.
  Do NOT use for general PostgreSQL instances (e.g. Cloud SQL) or other GCP databases.

AlloyDB Basics

AlloyDB for PostgreSQL is a managed, PostgreSQL-compatible database service designed for enterprise-grade performance and availability. It utilizes a disaggregated compute and storage architecture to scale resources independently. It also provides AlloyDB AI, a collection of features that includes AI-powered search (vector, hybrid search, and AI functions), natural language capabilities, conversational analytics, and inference features like forecasting and model endpoint management to help developers build AI apps faster.

Quick Start

Before you begin, ensure you have the [Google Cloud SDK installed](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install) and authenticated (`gcloud auth login`).

1. **Enable the AlloyDB API:**

    gcloud services enable alloydb.googleapis.com --quiet

2. **Create a Cluster:**

    gcloud alloydb clusters create my-cluster --region=us-central1 \
        --password=my-password --network=my-vpc --quiet

*For production environments, always use IAM database authentication instead of passwords. If configuration constraint requires passwords, store them securely using Secret Manager.*

3. **Create a Primary Instance:**

    gcloud alloydb instances create my-primary --cluster=my-cluster \
        --region=us-central1 --instance-type=PRIMARY --cpu-count=2 --quiet

Reference Directory

Read these supplementary files when specific context or detailed steps are required for a task:

• To understand architecture, regional availability, connectivity (Private IP,

Public IP, PSA, PSC), backups, point-in-time recovery, scaling (vertical and horizontal), or Quota management: read [Core Concepts](references/core-concepts.md).

• To manage clusters, instances, scaling, or backups via the CLI: read

[CLI Usage](references/cli-usage.md).

• To configure AlloyDB remote MCP tools: read

[MCP Usage](references/mcp-usage.md).

• To deploy AlloyDB using Terraform or Kubernetes Config Connector (KCC): read

[Infrastructure as Code](references/iac-usage.md).

• To configure IAM roles, service usage roles, service agents, database

users/privileges, or network security (public IP authorization, Auth Proxy sidecar configuration): read [IAM & Security](references/iam-security.md).

*If you need product information not found in these references, use the `developer_knowledge:search_documents` tool (see [Developer Knowledge MCP setup](https://developers.google.com/knowledge/mcp) for installation instructions).*

Directives for Agents

Agents MUST adhere to the following directives when answering queries related to AlloyDB:

• **Provide Multiple Methods:** When explaining how to perform administrative

tasks (like backups, scaling, or database user creation), always provide both the Google Cloud Console steps and the `gcloud` CLI commands if both are available in the reference documents.

• **Prioritize Private IP:** Recommend Private IP (especially PSC) over Public

IP for connections to ensure traffic remains within the Google Cloud network and reduces exposure.

• **Require Serverless Connectors:** Verify and state that Serverless VPC

Access or Direct VPC Egress is required when connecting from Cloud Run to Private IP.

• **Enforce Connectors:** Always direct users to configure the AlloyDB Auth

Proxy (running as a sidecar or locally) or language connectors rather than direct TCP connections.

• **Block Open Public Access:** If Public IP is configured, warn against and

reject designs with `0.0.0.0/0` in Authorized Networks as this exposes the database to the entire internet.

• **Default to IAM Database Authentication:** Suggest IAM database

authentication and the `alloydbiamuser` database role instead of static database passwords.

• **Enforce Least Privilege Connection:** When explaining connection roles,

explicitly state that `roles/alloydb.client` should be used to adhere to the principle of least privilege, and warn against using broader roles like `roles/alloydb.admin` for connections.

• **Mention All Creation Methods:** When describing how to create IAM database

users, explicitly state that they can be created using the Google Cloud Console, the `gcloud` CLI, and the AlloyDB API.

• **Explain Private IP Options:** When explaining Private IP connectivity,

always explicitly mention and describe both **Private Services Access (PSA)** and **Private Service Connect (PSC)** as the supported methods, recommending PSC for new deployments.

• **Compare Direct Connections:** Explicitly explain that direct connections

(connecting directly to the private IP without connectors) are possible but discouraged, and compare their security (lack of IAM/mTLS) to secure methods like the AlloyDB Auth Proxy or language connectors.

• **Enforce SQL Alone Warning:** When explaining IAM user creation, you MUST

explicitly state that "IAM database users cannot be created using standard SQL alone" and must be registered via the control plane first.

• **Enforce Roles and Privileges Terminology:** When explaining database

object access, you MUST explicitly state that "standard PostgreSQL roles and privileges" apply, using both terms.

• **Explain Backup Lifecycle:** When explaining backups, always explicitly

state that discrete backups exist independently of the source cluster and remain active even if the source cluster is deleted.

• **Recommend Connect