How to set up Adminer on Saplo: MySQL and PostgreSQL database panel without SSH

Do you need to take a quick look at a table, fix a typo in a record, or export some data, but all you have is the Saplo panel and your application's address? On Box S, you don't have SSH access, and installing a database client on your computer just to peek into the database once in a while is overkill. Adminer solves this problem: it's a database administration panel, all in one PHP file, accessible from your browser under your own domain or subdomain. In this guide, we'll show you how to set up Adminer on Saplo and connect it to a MySQL or PostgreSQL database in the same Box.

What is Adminer and who is it for?

Adminer is a lightweight, open-source database management panel that runs as a single PHP application in a Docker container. It supports MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and several other engines. Unlike most applications in the Saplo catalog, Adminer doesn't create its own administrator account or session - you log in with your database credentials every time you access the page, just like with a desktop client. This is a deliberate decision: the panel stores nothing on its end, so it doesn't add a new attack surface to your Box.

It's ideal if you already have a MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL module in the same Box and want to manage it without logging in via SSH. It's especially useful on Box S, where SSH access is not available at all, but also on larger plans - it's often quicker to open a browser than to launch a local SQL client. You can find the application description on the Adminer hosting page on Saplo.

Hosting requirements and costs

Adminer requires just 256 MB of RAM and 2 GB of disk space, so the cheapest plan that meets the installation requirements is Box S for $29 per year. This is just the panel application itself - the database you connect to is a separate module (MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL) that uses its own resources within the same Box. If you don't have it yet, install it before Adminer.

All you need for installation is the Saplo panel in your browser. You don't need SSH, your own database client, or additional tools on your computer.

Step-by-step installation

1. If your Box doesn't have a database yet, log in to the Saplo panel, open the app catalog, and install the MySQL / MariaDB or PostgreSQL module.
2. After installing the database, open its details page in the panel and note the data from the Connection details tab: host, port, database name, user, and password.
3. Go back to the app catalog, select Adminer, and start creating the application.
4. Give it a name, for example, baza-panel, and indicate the same Box where the database module is running.
5. Select the domain or subdomain *.saploapp.pl. Keep the exact HTTPS address displayed in the panel.
6. Confirm the installation and wait for the application status.

Adminer doesn't create accounts or save passwords, so you won't find a file with login details for the panel itself in the app catalog - there's only a ADMINER-SETUP.txt file with a reminder on how to connect to the database in the same Box.

Database Login

Open the Adminer application address in your browser. You will see a login screen with four fields:

• System - choose MySQL or PostgreSQL, depending on the database module you installed.
• Server - this field is pre-filled with the value 127.0.0.1, which is the database address within the same Box. Do not change this if the database is hosted locally.
• User and Password - use the same credentials as on the Database Connection Details tab of your database module in the Saplo panel.

After logging in, select the database name from the list or enter it manually if Adminer prompts you. Each visit to the page starts a new session - Adminer doesn't remember anything between visits, so you'll need to log in again on your next visit, unless your browser saves the credentials in its password manager.

What you can do in Adminer

Once logged in, you have a complete view of the database structure: a list of tables, preview and editing of rows, your own SQL queries, export of the database or a single table to an SQL file, and import of data from a file. You can also change the structure of tables - add and remove columns, indexes, or keys - without connecting to the server via SSH. This is sufficient for typical administrative tasks: correcting a typo in content, viewing logs saved in the database, or quickly checking if the application has actually saved a new record.

Security

Adminer doesn't have its own account, which means the only line of defense is the database password itself. Anyone who knows the application's address and database login credentials will gain access to the panel. Keep your database password as carefully as your Saplo panel password - don't send it through unencrypted channels and don't share the application address with people who don't need database access. If you plan to use Adminer rarely, it's a good idea to close the browser tab after work, instead of leaving an open session logged into the production database.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Adminer cost on Saplo?

The cheapest plan that meets the installation requirements is Box S for $29 per year. The database that Adminer connects to uses the resources of the same Box.

Will Adminer set up the database itself?

No. Adminer is just an administration panel - it will connect to an existing database. First, install the MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL module in the same Box.

Why is login failing?

Check if you selected the correct database engine in the System field, and if the user and password match the "Connection details" tab in the Saplo panel. The "Server" field should remain as 127.0.0.1 if the database is in the same Box.

Can I connect Adminer to a database in another Box?

By default, the database module only listens on 127.0.0.1, meaning within the same Box, and is not accessible from outside. Connecting to a database in another Box would require a separate network configuration, which Saplo does not provide in a standard installation.

Are login credentials saved anywhere?

Not on the server side. Adminer does not store sessions or passwords - you enter your login credentials each time you access it, unless your browser's password manager remembers them.

Open Adminer's offer on Saplo, install it in the same Box as the database, and log in with the credentials you already have in the database module panel.