# Flyio Core Workflow B

> Execute Fly.io secondary workflow: Postgres clusters, persistent volumes, and private networking. Use when adding databases, persistent storage, or internal service communication. Trigger: "fly postgres", "fly volumes", "fly.io database", "fly.io persistent storage".

- Skill: `gabrielmoreira/flyio-core-workflow-b` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add gabrielmoreira/flyio-core-workflow-b`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/gabrielmoreira/flyio-core-workflow-b/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Productivity
- License: MIT
- Author: gabrielmoreira (https://skillmd.com/u/gabrielmoreira)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/gabrielmoreira/flyio-core-workflow-b

---

# Fly.io Core Workflow B: Postgres, Volumes & Networking

## Overview

Set up Fly Postgres, persistent Fly Volumes, and private networking between apps. Fly Postgres runs as a regular Fly app with automated replication. Volumes provide persistent NVMe storage attached to specific machines.

## Prerequisites

- A data owner, documented locality/retention/backup/recovery requirements, and a staging environment with synthetic data.
- Scoped database and deployment identities, private-network policy, and a tested restore/rollback procedure.

## Output

Maintain a storage/network receipt with resource references, region, encryption/access controls, backup/restore verification, owner, and recovery result. Do not include connection strings, records, or keys.

## Examples

Create a disposable staging database and volume with fictional data, confirm an unauthorized app cannot reach it, and test a backup/restore without copying credentials to logs. Tear down only the validated disposable resources through the approved process.

## Instructions

### Step 1: Create Fly Postgres

```bash
# Create a Postgres cluster
fly postgres create --name my-db --region iad --vm-size shared-cpu-1x --volume-size 10

# Attach to your app (sets DATABASE_URL secret automatically)
fly postgres attach my-db -a my-app

# Connect directly
fly postgres connect -a my-db
# psql> SELECT version();

# Proxy to local machine for dev tools
fly proxy 5432 -a my-db
# Now connect with the secret-bearing URL supplied by the local proxy
psql "$DATABASE_URL"
```

### Step 2: Create Persistent Volumes

```bash
# Create a volume (same region as your machine)
fly volumes create data --size 10 --region iad -a my-app

# List volumes
fly volumes list -a my-app

# Mount in fly.toml
```

```toml
# fly.toml
[mounts]
  source = "data"
  destination = "/data"
```

```bash
# Deploy to pick up mount
fly deploy

# Verify mount inside machine
fly ssh console -C "df -h /data"
```

### Step 3: Private Networking (6PN)

```bash
# Apps in the same org can reach each other via .internal DNS
# my-app can reach my-db at: my-db.internal:5432

# Internal DNS format: <app-name>.internal
# Machine-specific: <machine-id>.vm.<app-name>.internal

# Example: connect from app code
DATABASE_URL=${FLY_DATABASE_URL}
```

```typescript
// Access internal services (no public internet)
const dbUrl = process.env.DATABASE_URL;
const apiUrl = `http://my-api.internal:3000/health`;  // Internal HTTP
```

### Step 4: Postgres Backups and Failover

```bash
# List backups
fly postgres barman list-backups -a my-db

# Create manual backup
fly postgres barman backup -a my-db

# Check replication status
fly postgres barman check -a my-db

# Failover to standby (if primary fails)
fly postgres failover -a my-db
```

## Error Handling

| Error | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| `volume not found` | Volume in different region | Create volume in same region as machine |
| `connection refused on .internal` | App not running | Check `fly status -a target-app` |
| `database does not exist` | Not yet created | Run `CREATE DATABASE mydb;` via `fly postgres connect` |
| `disk full` | Volume full | Extend: `fly volumes extend vol_xxx --size 20` |

## Resources

- [Fly Postgres](https://fly.io/docs/postgres/)
- [Fly Volumes](https://fly.io/docs/volumes/)
- [Private Networking](https://fly.io/docs/networking/private-networking/)

## Next Steps

For common errors, see `flyio-common-errors`.