a month ago
My Postgres database is running and healthy (deploy logs confirm "database system is ready to accept connections" after recovery), but the public proxy is completely unreachable from external connections.
Error:
connection to server failed: server closed the connection unexpectedly
This probably means the server terminated abnormally before or while processing the request.
What I've tried:
- Restarted the database multiple times — it recovers successfully each time
- The database dashboard can query the DB internally (I see pg_stat_statements queries in the logs)
- External connections via the public proxy URL all fail immediately
- Other databases in the same project work fine
Details:
- Project ID:
973ebc31-6f80-4831-8744-4aa78457bd9d - Postgres 17.6
- Proxy host:
ballast.proxy.rlwy.net
I need to dump/migrate data from this database urgently. Could you help fix the proxy or assist with extracting a pg_dump?
Pinned Solution
a month ago
I have created Postgres Backup API template that you can use to backup your database using your internal database URL.
1. Click on the Add button in your dashboard canvas to add a new template to your project.
2. Search for the template name and scroll down to find it:
3. Set your DATABASE_URL env variable.
4. Just navigate to the service URL in your browser, and it will download a backup file to your machine.
7 Replies
Status changed to Awaiting Railway Response Railway • about 2 months ago
Status changed to Open Railway • about 1 month ago
a month ago
bump^
a month ago
Try deleting your TCP proxy and generate a new one. Go to your service Settings > Networking and regenerate it from there.
darseen
Try deleting your TCP proxy and generate a new one. Go to your service **Settings > Networking** and regenerate it from there.
a month ago
Update: Regenerated the TCP proxy however the new proxy (mainline.proxy.rlwy.net:18453) also fails with the same "server closed the connection unexpectedly" error.
This confirms the issue is not proxy-specific. The DB logs show successful startup and "ready to accept connections" but no external connection succeeds.
a month ago
tried them all, none worked:
- SSL mode:
psql "url?sslmode=require"— same "server closed the connection unexpectedly" error - Regenerated TCP proxy 3 times:
ballast,mainline, andcrossoverproxy hosts all fail identically - Internal pg_dump via another service: Railway CLI won't let me create a new service in the project to run it
- DB restart: Done multiple times, logs show successful recovery and "ready to accept connections" every time
This isn't a plugin-based DB so detach/re-attach doesn't apply. Also tried restarting the entire project.
a month ago
I have created Postgres Backup API template that you can use to backup your database using your internal database URL.
1. Click on the Add button in your dashboard canvas to add a new template to your project.
2. Search for the template name and scroll down to find it:
3. Set your DATABASE_URL env variable.
4. Just navigate to the service URL in your browser, and it will download a backup file to your machine.
darseen
I have created [Postgres Backup API](https://railway.com/deploy/postgres-backup-api) template that you can use to backup your database using your internal database URL. 1\. Click on the **Add** button in your dashboard canvas to add a new template to your project. 2\. Search for the template name and scroll down to find it:  3\. Set your `DATABASE_URL` env variable.  4\. Just navigate to the service URL in your browser, and it will download a backup file to your machine.
a month ago
Got it, thanks so much for your help man!
kapiushon8
Got it, thanks so much for your help man!
a month ago
You're welcome!
Status changed to Solved chandrika • about 1 month ago